§ 15. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what overall plan he has for returning to civilian use tracts of land no longer required for military training.
§ Mr. EnnalsLand that is used for military training is kept under continual review, and areas are released as soon as they are no longer required.
§ Mr. DalyellIs the Minister satisfied that sufficient urgency is being given to this problem?
§ Mr. EnnalsI am aware that there is a great deal of feeling about this. As I said, the matter is under continual review. However, my hon. Friend must remember that part of my duty is to ensure that the Services have the facilities which are necessary for operational efficiency. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in point, I will, of course, look into it.
§ Sir A. V. HarveyWill the hon. Gentleman see that the 240 acres at Nether Alderley, which the Ministry has had for a great number of years, are returned to agricultural use instead of being used for a proposed prison?
§ Mr. EnnalsI would require notice of that question.
Mr. Bob BrownWould not my hon. Friend agree that the time taken in negotiations when a local authority requires land for redevelopment is interminable? Should not the period be shortened?
§ Mr. EnnalsThese negotiations are often extremely difficult, but certainly we think that they could be speeded up. We are seeing what can be done about this.