§ Mr. Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath)On a point of order, Madam Speaker, of which I have given you notice. As you know—you have been in the Chair on a number of occasions when I have raised the matter here—one of the biggest issues in my constituency is the future of the building housing the staff college, which is probably one of the most significant military sites in the world.
Over the past 20 months, I have repeatedly asked Ministers, in both written and oral questions, about their plans for the building's future. Initially, I received a series of answers saying, "We will let the hon. Gentleman know shortly": it was always "shortly, shortly, shortly". Then, about six months ago, the nature of both oral and written answers changed. The Secretary of State and other Ministers said, "No plans have yet been put to Ministers."
It was therefore with considerable shock that, last Friday, my constituents and I read the main story on the front page of our local newspaper. According to that story, there was a proposal to consider converting the staff college into luxury flats or a corporate headquarters. Not only is the building on a secure site, and enormously significant because the royal military academy, Sandhurst, is next door to it—the secure area covers the whole site—but it contains war memorials. A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman is quoted extensively.
I thought that you, Madam Speaker, might have had an indication that a Minister might wish to apologise to the House for the fact that the news emerged from an MOD spokeswoman who was quoted in the press, and for the fact that no information was given to the House of Commons, the other place or the constituency Member involved, namely me. Can you tell me, Madam Speaker, whether you have had any such indication, or how I can best pursue the matter on behalf of my constituents, who are very angry?
§ Madam SpeakerI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving me some idea of his point of order, and for allowing me to see the press report to which he has referred. As he and the House know, I make no comment on press statements or press reports, nor am I aware that a Minister is ready to make a statement on the matter in the House. I am, however, aware of the questions that the hon. Gentleman has asked. My guidance is this: he should continue to ask questions in the House, or raise the issue on the Adjournment. He must pursue the issue by parliamentary means.
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