HL Deb 24 March 1953 vol 181 cc240-1

2.39 p.m.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what are their intentions with reference to the former prisoners-of-war camp at Island Farm, Bridgend, Glamorgan, in which Field-Marshal von Rundstedt and other German generals were imprisoned and which the War Department has allowed to go to rack and ruin and to become an eyesore in the midst of a beautiful countryside.]

EARL FORTESCUE

My Lords, a part of Island Farm Camp, Bridgend, is needed permanently as a Territorial Army Centre, and it is planned to replace the existing temporary huts by a permanent building when funds are available. The remainder of the camp is being retained for the present for use in an emergency, such as mobilisation.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his Answer, may I ask him two questions arising out of it? First, is it necessary to continue with this camp in its present condition, with broken windows, barbed wire, and so forth? Secondly, is it not possible to do something to utilise the land inside the camp, which at present is covered with nettles and other non-agricultural and useless products?

EARL FORTESCUE

My Lords. I am afraid that I cannot give the noble Lord a very satisfactory answer. It is the intention to use part of the camp as a permanent centre for Territorials. It was intended to spend quite a large sum of money on it, but that money is not available at the present time. The future of the rest of the camp has not yet been settled. However, I will convey to my right honourable friend what the noble Lord has said about the nettles, broken glass, and so on.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, I am grateful for the offer made by the noble Earl. I do not want to press this matter too much, but I would ask him to remember that this camp is in a beauty spot, and it does not do the Government or the War Department any good to have a broken-down camp right in the heart of what is really beautiful country.

EARL FORTESCUE

My Lords, I do not know this beauty spot, but I understand that the river which runs close to it is called the River Ogmore. I will certainly convey to my right honourable friend what the noble Lord has said.

EARL JOWITT

My Lords, I should have thought that the name of the river gives a fair indication that it is a beautiful spot.