HC Deb 31 January 1966 vol 723 c667
24. Dame Joan Vickers

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works when the present rebuilding of the Royal Marine Barracks, Stonehouse, Plymouth, will be completed; and if he will reconstruct the dining hall and the galley for the Royal Marines.

Mr. Boyden

The present rebuilding scheme will be substantially completed by the end of this year and the outstanding items should be finished by the middle of next year. The possible addition of a new Marines' dining hall and galley is now being considered.

Dame Joan Vickers

While the present building is satisfactory as far as it has gone, may I ask the hon. Gentleman to remember in future that the Royal Marines are not a race of pygmies? If he cares to examine the bathrooms and other accommodation in the new sergeant's mess, he will see that they are for very small people indeed. Will he bear in mind in future reconstruction that that is so and should be catered for by the architect?

Mr. Boyden

I visited the training school at Lympstone recently and I was impressed by the size, good morale and personal bearing of the Royal Marines I met there.