BICESTER MP Tony Baldry claims the Government is clouding the issue over the future of hundreds of jobs at the town's biggest employer.

He has accused former defence minister John Hutton of obfuscating about plans for the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency, based on D Site, Graven Hill.

It was unclear, Mr Baldry said, whether the MoD wanted to privatise jobs at the depot or consolidate it elsewhere.

He said: ”I have no idea why ministers are obfuscating. It causes me concern.

“I am not sure whether the MoD wants to consolidate activities at Bicester or disperse jobs and activities.

“The minister doesn’t state whether it will be privatised. Or is this another way of saying it may consolidate somewhere else.

“I find it totally bizarre over an issue as important as this.

“The defence establishment is an important part of Bicester in terms of jobs and land holdings.”

In the Government’s Pre Budget report it announced that it would look into the running of the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency and review possible options, to reduce its overall costs.

The review is being carried out under the Treasury’s “Operational Efficiency Programme”, which says no conclusions have yet been reached and different options are still being explored.

Les Sibley, senior Unite trade union representative, said: “It is unclear at this stage of the exercise as to the potential impact that this review will have on staff employed at MoD Bicester. Hundreds of jobs could be in jeopardy, as the MoD looks to make further cost-efficiency savings.”

Mr Baldry said that a progress report was published in April 2009, and although it outlined various “business models”, further progress would not be announced until the autumn.

A spokesman for the DSDA, an executive agency of the MoD responsible for storing, maintaining, issuing, processing, and distributing defence clothing and equipment to the armed forces, said: “The Operational Efficiency Programme provides a welcome opportunity to build on all the hard work that has gone into transforming the agency over the last three years.

“We must now see how we can deliver further benefits for Defence and those it serves on operations.”

Bob Ainsworth took over the post of Secretary of State for Defence on June 5.