HC Deb 14 January 1971 vol 809 cc244-6
24. Mr. John Page

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will now make an announcement about the review of coastal and countryside sites occupied by the Ministry of Defence.

Lord Balniel

I apologise for the length of the answer.

The review of defence land holdings in the United Kingdom is to be undertaken by a Committee which my right hon. and noble Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence, is appointing under the Chairmanship of Lord Nugent of Guildford. In addition to the Chairman, the Committee has six independent members, including the Chairman of the Countryside Commission, as well as official representatives.

The Committee has been given wide terms of reference covering countryside and coastal sites occupied by the Armed Forces, or by the Ministry of Aviation Supply for defence purposes, including all those which have been the subject of public concern on amenity grounds. With permission, I will circulate the Committee's full terms of reference and details of its members in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The inquiry will be a major undertaking and one of very great concern to the Services as well as to all concerned with amenity and recreation in the countryside. We are confident that this strong Committee is the best possible instrument to carry out this important task.

Mr. Page

In view of the grave importance of the amenity value of different parts of the land which will be under review, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether it will be possible for there to be interim reports from this body rather than our having to wait for the whole review to be carried out? Secondly, can my right hon. Friend tell the House whether defence land in National Parks will be included in the terms of reference of the review?

Lord Balniel

I think that whether there should be an interim report is a matter which lies within the discretion of the Committee itself. The answer to the question whether the review will be able to cover defence holdings in National Parks is "Yes". In addition, all defence holdings in areas of outstanding natural beauty and along the coastline, except for dockyards and port installations, will be examined by the Committee. So also will training areas, airfields and ranges, wherever they may be situated in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Lawson

Will the right hon. Gentleman see to it that Nature Conservancy is also brought into this matter? As he knows, this is a long-established body, which was set up for this very purpose. Will he ensure that the best use is made of our land, and see to it that Nature Conservancy as well as the Countryside Commission is brought into this matter?

Lord Balniel

I have said that the Chairman of the Countryside Commission will be a member of the Committee, but he will sit as an independent person bringing his judgment to bear on the issues under review, and it will be open to the Nature Conservancy, or to any other bodies interested in this subject, to give evidence before the Committee.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Will my right hon. Friend see whether it will be possible for the Committee to give particular priority to examining the possibility of releasing sites, or parts of sites, where, for instance, local authorities have been pressing for their release for urgent local purposes?

Lord Balniel

I shall see that the point made by my hon. Friend is brought to the attention of the Chairman of the Committee.

Mr. George Thomson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we on this side of the House warmly welcome his announcement of the appointment of this Committee and that, like him, we attach great importance to its work? May I, with the same area in mind as the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne), express a rather different point of view from that expressed by the hon. Gentleman, and say that there have been many instances in which, although military occupation has created difficulties of access, it has, at the same time, preserved areas of natural beauty and recreational use from undesirable developments? I hope that this Committee will take great care in considering that aspect of the matter and will ensure that land of natural beauty or amenity value is preserved for those purposes?

Lord Balniel

I am sure that the two points of view put to the House are exactly the kinds of issue that will be examined by the Committee. I should like to express my gratitude to the right hon. Gentleman for welcoming this Committee, because its report is of undoubted importance both to the defence needs of this country and to recreational and amenity interests.

The following is the information:

Terms of reference: To review the holding of land in the United Kingdom by the Armed Forces or by the Ministry of Aviation Supply for Defence purposes:
  1. (a)for training areas, airfields and ranges wherever situated;
  2. (b)for any purpose in national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty; and
  3. (c)along the coastline for purposes other than dockyards and port installations.
Taking account of the long-term needs of the Armed Forces and their operational efficiency, and of cost and other relevant considerations, to make recommendations to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Minister of Aviation Supply as to what changes should be made in these holdings and in improved access for the public, having regard to recreation, amenity, or other uses which might be made of the land. Membership: Apart from the Chairman, Lord Nugent of Guildford, the Committee has six independent members, namely Mr. Duncan Alexander, Major J. H. Askew, Mr. John Cripps, Mr. Jack Hargreaves, Colonel R. J. L. Jackson and Mr. Nigel Strutt. In addition, there will be senior representatives of the three Services and officials from the Northern Ireland Government, the Ministry of Defence, the Scottish Office, the Department of the Environment, the Welsh Office and the Ministry of Aviation Supply.