§ Q4. Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Ministry of Defence and the Department of the Environment with reference to the release of defence lands following the recommendations of the Nugent Report.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. The Departments are in close touch about the implications of the report. We are considering carefully public comment on it before making our decisions.
§ Mr. ChapmanWill my right hon. Friend indicate when a statement will be made? Will he confirm that among the matters that will be dealt with are the 31,000 acres recommended for release outside the national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty which should be made available for housing and, more specifically, that the 16 miles of coastline recommended for release will be released and that the public will have permanent and complete access to those parts of the coastline?
§ The Prime MinisterI would hope that we can reach decisions before the end of the year. Obviously I could not make a promise that we shall be able to announce them before Parliament rises, but I hope to be able to announce them early in the New Year. We shall certainly consider my hon. Friend's second point. On the third point, action is already in hand to dispose of the properties covering the 16 miles of coastline to which he has referred, which involves about 1,700 acres and the whole or parts of some 18 defence establishments, because we felt that we could already get on the way with those.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopWhile welcoming the announcement of the potential release of some of the areas recommended in the report may I ask the Prime Minister to give an assurance that there will be a continuing review of some of the other areas still being retained?
§ The Prime MinisterWe have not made any provision for that at present, 28 but after we have reached decisions on the specific proposals of the Nugent Committee I am perfectly prepared to consider that suggestion.
§ Mr. Evelyn KingIs my right hon. Friend aware that in the village of Lulworth, which is nearest to the range concerned, in a recent poll over 90 per cent. of the people wished the Army to stay? Is he further aware that Dorset County Council planning committee, the local urban district council, the rural district council, the trade unions concerned and every other democratically elected body also wish the Army to stay and wish me to represent that view? In any decision that may be taken, will my right hon. Friend have regard to the fact that those who are chiefly concerned are those who live in the area?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. I am fully aware of this position. Although at times it may seem rather obvious that people wish the Services to leave the land and areas that they occupy, now that these proposals have been made and published there is a considerable body of opinion which expresses the view that the Services should not give up a particular area of land with which they are concerned. We shall have to consider all the observations made to us before we reach decisions and put them forward.