§ 17. Major-General Jack d'Avigdor-Goldsmidasked the Minister of State for Defence what consideration has been given to moving the Royal Armoured Corps Gunnery School from Lulworth.
§ Mr. BlakerThe Royal Armoured Corps Gunnery Range at Lulworth is one of the sites being reviewed by the Defence Lands Committee under the chairmanship of Lord Nugent of Guildford under terms announced by my right hon. Friend on 14th January 1971.—[Vol. 809, c. 244–247.]
§ Major-General d'Avigdor-GoldsmidMay I ask whether, if the Nugent Committee requires the return of this range and the land to the public, consideration has been given to the cost or whether an estimate has been made of the cost of moving the gunnery school and of building new barracks elsewhere?
§ Mr. BlakerI think my hon. and gallant Friend will agree that until the committee has reported, and until its recommendations have been considered by Ministers, it is premature to talk about the cost of doing anything which the committee might or might not recommend.
§ Mr. Evelyn KingIs my hon. Friend aware that while there are a number of people who would like to see the area of land in military use reduced—perhaps he can tell us when the Nugent Committee is likely to report—no one in Dorset wants to see the Army go? Is he aware 249 that the Army employs 800 people and brings some £2 million into a county which has practically no industry? Is he further aware that the presence of skilled soldiers has for generations added much to the social and economic life of the country?
§ Mr. BlakerWe expect the Nugent Committee to report very soon. I note what my hon. Friend has had to say about the presence of the Army. That is a matter which I am sure will have been taken into account by the committee.