§ 3. Mr. Russell Johnstonasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the future of the Cameron Barracks, Inverness and Fort George.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Army (Mr. G. W. Reynolds)About half of Cameron Barracks, Inverness, is to be used to accommodate Territorial Army units and the Regimental Headquarters of the Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Cameron). The future of the remainder is under consideration.
Fort George is being used as a camp and training centre for Territorial Army and Cadet units for a trial period of three years. The use of Fort George in the long term will be decided when its success as a training centre has been fully assessed. It is also proposed to locate the regimental museum of the Queen's Own Highlanders in the fort. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works is now maintaining the historic parts of the fort as an ancient monument and intends to open them to the public.
§ Mr. JohnstonIs the Under-Secretary aware that there is considerable concern at 4 the uncertainty about the final use of both these buildings, particularly, for example, in regard to Fort George, and that there are considerable potentialities for the development of tourism in association with the beach which is adjacent to the fort? Will the hon. Gentleman bear these things in mind and reach a quick determination of what exactly should be done with these buildings?
§ Mr. ReynoldsI will certainly keep in touch with the local authorities on both these cases. In regard to Fort George, we will not be able to look at that in greater detail until we have seen how the present proposed use works out in the area. This fort was built to maintain Hanoverian rule over rebellious and reluctant Scottish peasantry. But they seem to have succeeded in revolting again last month.