§ 35. Mr. P. Browneasked the Secretary of State for War what future use the Army intends to make of Westward Ho as a training area for amphibious vehicles.
§ The Under-Secretary of State and Financial Secretary for War (Mr. James Ramsden)We shall continue to need the use of the beach at Westward Ho for training drivers of amphibious vehicles but they will approach from the sea only.
§ Mr. BrowneWill my hon. Friend reconsider this? Does he think it is necessary to use a famous holiday resort for training purposes for the Army particularly now that the camp has closed down? Will he in any case see whether he can get the Bailey bridge across the famous little pebbleridge removed because it is doing a great deal of damage to that ridge, which I think will soon be breached by the sea if something is not done?
§ Mr. RamsdenAs regards the Bailey bridge, that is covered by my Answer to the effect that vehicles will approach the beach only from the sea. As regards the first part of the supplementary question, I am afraid that we shall continue to need this beach for amphibious training.