CONFIDENTIAL
2ND DRAFT
The Royal Naval Supply and Transport Service (RNSTS)
31.
Multi-purpose workshop complexes are being constructed at
Portsmouth and Devonport to assist the RNSTS in servicing the
sophisticated weapons now entering service. Each complex is wholly
self-contained and able to maintain a variety of weapons, with an
improved standard of protection for personnel and equipment should
a mishap occur during assembly and testing. These workshops represent
a significant advance on existing maintenance facilities.
ROYAL ORDNANCE FACTORIES
Introduction of a Trading Fund
32. To improve the system of financing the Royal Ordnance
Factories (ROF), the Trading Fund was introduced on 1 July 1974 on
the authority of an Order made under the Government Trading Funds Act
1973. The disciplines and responsibilities of the new funding
arrangements, coupled with the greater autonomy which the Trading
Fund has brought, should provide the opportunity and means to
improve upon the high standards maintained in the past.
Future Programme
33. Planned production in 1975-76 includes ammunition, explosives
and air-dropped weapons, armoured fighting vehicles and combat
reconnaissance vehicles, guns of various calibres (including the new
light field gun), cannon and general purpose machine guns and
contributions to the guided-weapons programme. The ROFS co-operate
with the Ministry of Defence's Research and Development Establishments
in development work on, among other things, armoured vehicles, guns
and ammunition. The organisation eleven factories and two agency
factories is expected to produce an output worth about £126_7million;
some [40% of this will be for export, including equipment for our
78.
CONFIDENTIAL