AN MP claims the imminent relocation of scores of jobs from York's Imphal Barracks to Catterick Garrison could be a shocking waste of public money.

York Central MP Hugh Bayley spoke out about the basing of the newly merged Headquarters 15 (North East) Brigade and Headquarters 4th ( Mechanised) Brigade at Catterick while meeting union leaders at the York barracks in Fulford Road yesterday.

The reorganisation, which is set to go ahead before the end of the year, will leave York staff facing the unpalatable choice of a daily commute of more than an hour each way from York to Catterick, moving home to the Catterick area or going on to a redeployment pool at Imphal, with redundancy if they have not found alternative work within six months.

Mr Bayley said he shared staff's belief that there was sufficient space at Imphal to provide high quality accommodation for the Headquarters 1st Division as well as the newly merged Adaptable Force Brigade Headquarters.

He accused the Ministry of Defence of failing to carry out an analysis of the costings so that comparisons could be calculated and said he believed there was no justification for relocating the Adaptive Force Brigade to Catterick.

"The Catterick accommodation is far from satisfactory and in much need of refurbishment and the costs involved in bringing the Catterick accommodation up to standard will be extremely costly," he said.

"In addition, Catterick would need a new communication system which would present further problems and high costs."

The MP, who has criticised the move previously, said it had been eight months since he discussed the issue with Defence Minister, Mark Francois, who had said he would look at the pros and cons of setting up the headquarters in York and get back to him by April - "but I am still waiting for an answer."

He said: "It would be a shocking waste of public money to spend millions of pounds upgrading new accommodation when there is already suitable accommodation at Imphal Barracks in York to house both the Adaptable Force Brigade and the Headquarters 1st Division.

"I have written again to the Minister, Mark Francois, asking that he responds to my concerns and provides a detailed analysis of the full costings of the proposed move.”

An army spokeswoman said: ”It would be inappropriate to comment, as Mr Bayley states he is awaiting a response from the Minister.”