HC Deb 21 June 1994 vol 245 cc108-9
3. Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reductions are planned in military outward bound type training centres; and if he will make a statement.

The Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Mr. Jeremy Hanley)

Separately from the defence costs study, my Department is planning to study the scope for maximum efficiency and rationalisation of adventurous training as part of a wider review of how and where Army-sponsored training is conducted.

Mr. Llwyd

Does the Minister agree that the joint service mountain training camp at Tywyn in my constituency is an excellent establishment? Does he also agree that, as a result of last year's consultation on staffing, things have been a little shambolic between the Ministry and the employees? Given that a tri-service review is being conducted, the results of which will, I understand, be announced in July, does that mean that the future of the camp will then be known?

Finally, if and when redundancies have to be made, do I have the Minister's assurance that proper consultation will take place according to the recent landmark decision at the European Court of Justice?

Mr. Hanley

I was a graduate of Morfa camp, Tywyn, and I enjoyed my time there very much. I cannot, however, give the hon. Gentleman the assurance that he seeks because the adventurous training study has been removed from the defence costs study and will be considered over a slightly longer time scale than that provided for the latter. The decision on the exact provision of camps that we will need in the future will be made during the summer or in the early autumn, not with the defence costs study.

Mr. Fabricant

Will my hon. Friend congratulate the 3rd Battalion of the Staffordshire Regiment on running outward bound courses for young people in Staffordshire and the west midlands? Is my hon. Friend aware that only last Saturday I abseiled down the Roaches, with the battalion, in the Staffordshire moorlands?

Mr. Hanley

I had heard of my hon. Friend's great courage in abseiling down. As was explained to me, he showed that not only do we have the technology, but he does, too, to survive such an experience.