HC Deb 03 July 1973 vol 859 c241
15. Mr. Douglas

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's present and future requirements for land for training and other purposes in Scotland.

Mr. Blaker

No, Sir. I must ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the report of the Defence Lands Committee under the chairmanship of Lord Nugent of Guildford.

Mr. Douglas

Is the Minister aware of the grievances in certain areas of Scotland about the amount of land consumed by military and naval establishments? In view of the land hunger for housing and industrial purposes, when the report comes will the Minister undertake to give a speedy decision?

Mr. Blaker

I undertake that the report will be considered with all appropriate speed. The hon. Gentleman asks about the use of land in Scotland for Ministry of Defence purposes. It was to examine the needs of the Ministry of Defence for land for training and related purposes throughout the United Kingdom that the committee was set up. The hon. Gentleman may be interested to know that the size of defence land holdings as a proportion of the total land area as at 1st October last was as follows in the four countries of the United Kingdom: England 1.6 per cent., Wales 0.9 per cent., Scotland 0.3 per cent. and Northern Ireland 0.75 per cent.

Mr. William Clark

As the Nugent Report has been in the Government's hands for some time, will my hon. Friend say when he will publish it?

Mr. Blaker

On Thursday 5th July, Sir.