§ 24. Mr. Hiltonasked the Secretary of State for War what acreage in the Stanford battle area in Norfolk is now reserved exclusively for military exercises.
§ Mr. ProfumoThe battle area at Stanford comprises about 16,000 acres, and as we fire live ammunition from all types of weapons there, civilian use has to be restricted; but so far as this is consistent with the needs of military training, we do make most of the area available for agriculture.
§ Mr. ShinwellSend the cadets there.
§ Mr. HiltonWill not the right hon. Gentleman agree that 16,000 acres is a very large area to be reserved for periodic military exercises? Is it all really necessary, especially at a time when land is at such a premium? As it is a long time since this area was reviewed, will not the Secretary of State agree to look into it again to see whether some land can be released for more useful purposes?
§ Mr. ProfumoIf the hon. Gentleman has in mind any sort of particular help which might be given to local farmers, I would be very ready to examine it, but it would be wrong if I led him or any of his local friends to believe that we could give up a substantial amount of ground. I think he knows that we have very largely contracted our training space and that we need this land. As an indication of that, this area has been booked already for January to November next year.