HC Deb 28 November 1946 vol 430 cc1774-5
45. Mr. Driberg

asked the Prime Minister it, before the Service Departments acquire further land in such districts as Dartmoor or Ashdown Forest for training purposes, he will instruct them to re-examine the possibility of conducting part, at any rate, of such training in Canada or elsewhere overseas.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)

The possibility has been only recently reexamined. The conclusion reached, which I am satisfied is the correct one, was that the great bulk of service training must continue to take place in this country. Even if suitable areas overseas were readily available the expense, the waste of time and the immense amount of transportation that would be involved would be prohibitive, quite apart from the necessity for having training ground available in this country in any case for men called up for National Service and for members of the Auxiliary Services.

49. Sir Henry Morris-Jones

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the present public concern at the retention of sites, and the proposed acquisition of new sites for Services training purposes, he will publish a White Paper specifying the areas, with full information thereon.

The Prime Minister

Until the Interdepartmental Committee have gone further with their discussions and inquiries, all proposals are provisional. No useful purpose would, therefore, be served by the publication of a White Paper as suggested. At a later stage, however, and before any decisions are taken, I will consider in what form the fullest possible information can be made available.

Sir H. Morris-Jones

In view of the conflict of interest between the Departments and the Services on the one hand, and civilian needs and amenities on the other, will the right hon. Gentleman appoint a Royal Commission, or a Select Committee of this House, to go into the whole of this question?

The Prime Minister

No, Sir. This is obviously a matter which must be decided by the Government, in which the various interests are necessarily represented, and are put forward by the Service Departments and other Ministers concerned. It is quite impossible for the Government to hand that over to a Royal Commission.