§ 6. Mr. Hunterasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of Bramley camp, near Basingstoke.
§ Mr. FreemanMy Department is considering the retention of part of the land for use for Army dry training and disposal of the remaining portion. It will be discussing its proposals in due course with the local authority.
§ Mr. HunterDoes my hon. Friend appreciate that would were the Property Services Agency to maximise the realisation of this capital asset, there would be a wholesale housing development that would run counter to the interests of local farmers, flout the wishes of county and district planners and go against the wishes of many of my constituents, particularly those in the villages of Bramley and Sherfield on Loddon? Will my hon. Friend take those factors as well as the economic factors into account?
§ Mr. FreemanI am sure that my hon. Friend will appreciate the great pressure upon the Ministry of Defence to sell surplus land. However, I can give my hon. Friend the assurance that there will be no wholesale housing development on that land. At a date convenient to my hon. Friend, I hope to be able to visit Bramley camp with him.