HC Deb 22 February 1977 vol 926 cc1214-5
15. Mr. Canavan

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many acres of land his Department owns in West Stirlingshire.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

958 acres of freehold land.

Mr. Canavan

Is the Minister aware that the Central Regional Council, in conjunction with the Scottish Development Agency, is trying to acquire about 10 acres of land to construct an industrial estate adjacent to Bandeath naval depôt, but that the farmer who at present leases the land from the Ministry of Defence is reluctant to part with it? Cannot the Minister take a firmer line with this obstructive farmer by telling him that his dog-in-the-manger attitude is holding up the creation of new jobs for my constituents?

Mr. Brown

The Scottish Development Agency has sought planning permission for the proposal that my hon. Friend mentioned, but, as he says, the farmer has lodged an objection, as he has a statutory right to do. Planning permission is, of course, a matter for local authorities in the first place. However, the Ministry of Defence is co-operating closely with the SDA in the matter. I understand that the agency now intends to try to identify an alternative site at Bandeath, and this will have our close co-operation. I assure my hon. Friend that nothing I shall do will in any way detract from the great efforts that he has made, on behalf of his constituents, to bring extra employment to the area to replace jobs lost through the closure of the depôt.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Wigley—but I remind the hon. Gentleman that the Question relates to West Stirlingshire.

Mr. Wigley

Is the Minister aware of the disproportionate acreage in Wales that is used—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman will have to put down another Question on that subject.

Mr. Wigley

Is the Minister aware that a large proportion of the acreage used for military purposes was originally taken from farmers against their will? Now that there is a rundown in expenditure on defence, will he consider whether some of that land can be given back to the farmers from whom it was taken?

Mr. Brown

I was in the Principality last week, on an extensive visit, so I am well aware—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I wish that I were in the Principality, but the Minister must not go further than did the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley).

Mr. Brown

I defer to your ruling, Mr. Speaker. The hon. Gentleman did not refer to the Defence Lands Committee, commonly known as the Nugent Committee. That shows that we are making great strides in releasing Ministry land in Wales and Scotland.

Mr. Dalyell

Is it policy in West Stirlingshire to beat swords into ploughshares, rather than vice versa?