HL Deb 26 March 1946 vol 140 cc360-1

4.4 p.m.

VISCOUNT LONG

My Lords, I beg to ask the question standing in my name.

[The question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they anticipate giving a decision in regard to the future of the Imber area as a live battle-training ground, and, further, if it is His Majesty's Government's intention to retain it, what compensation will be paid for the damage done to dwellings due to the concussion which is felt beyond the confines of the area itself.]

LORD AMMON

My Lords, I regret that I cannot, at the moment, give any indication of the date when it will be possible to announce the decision regarding the future of the Imber training area. I can, however, assure noble Lords that there will be no unnecessary delay in arriving at a decision and in making it known. It will be realized that this is only one item in a very large programme—the provision of training-land facilities for the post-war Army—and that it cannot with justice be considered in isolation. My noble friend the Under-Secretary of State for War has had a particular responsibility in connexion with the general problem. At the request of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for War he has for some time been engaged in surveying the whole of the land owned or occupied by the Army, in order to formulate the future requirements, based on the best assumptions which can be made at present regarding the size, shape, and organization of the post-war Army. Similar action is being taken by the other Service Departments.

As soon as this task is completed, and it is nearly finished, it is intended to coordinate the proposals of the three Services, and to place the co-ordinated scheme before the Minister of Town and Country Planning, in consultation with the Minister of Agriculture and other interested Departments, in order to determine how the needs of the Services can best be met to the general advantage of the public. The authorities and interests in all the areas which appear to be affected are naturally concerned to find out as quickly as possible how and to what extent their own particular area is to be used, but I hope that the noble Viscount, and noble Lords generally, will appreciate that it is essential, in the general interest, to deal with the plan as a whole, and that it would be improper to prejudice the position in one area by a premature decision on the future use of another. In these circumstances the point raised in the second part of the question does not arise at present. My noble friend will be happy to deal with it in due course if it should prove necessary.

4.6 p.m.

VISCOUNT LONG

My Lords, in thanking the noble Lord for his reply, I would ask, in view of the grave anxiety which exists at the present time that training is about to take place in that area—and so far we have had no word from His Majesty's Government with regard to the compensation to be paid to us—whether he would again raise that matter with His Majesty's Government and try to help us at this very vital moment, the beginning of the summer training.

LORD AMMON

I assure the noble Viscount I will bring this to the attention of my right honourable friend.

4.7 p.m.

House adjourned during pleasure.

House resumed.