§ 49. Sir W. Anstruther-Grayasked the Minister of Defence how many acres of land are held by Service Departments in Scotland; and by how much he estimates that this figure will be reduced in the next twelve months.
§ Mr. SandysAbout 77,000 acres are held by the Services in Scotland. Within the next twelve months, it is hoped to sell about 3,300 acres and to give up training rights on about 6,500 acres of other land.
§ Major Anstruther-GrayWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind the fact that that still leaves a great many thousand acres? Will he give an assurance that he will reduce to the absolute minimum necessary the quantity of acres that he holds?
§ Mr. SandysI can certainly give that assurance. What we are proposing to do in the coming year shows that we are trying to live up to those principles.
§ Mr. SteeleHas the Minister of Defence any further proposals for purchasing more land in Scotland for Service purposes?
§ Mr. SandysThat is a rather different question.