§ Mr. Deedesasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total acreage of land held by Service Departments in 1945, 1955 and 1965, respectively.
§ Mr. ReynoldsLand held freehold, leasehold and under Defence Regulation 51 by the Service Departments totalled 1,284,000 acres in 1945, 791,000 acres in 1955 and 628,000 acres in 1965, and a further 5,742,000 acres, 116,000 acres and 81,000 acres were used in the same years under Defence Regulation 52 and under licence.
§ Mr. Deedesasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the procedure now followed when a Service Department 96W relinquishes its claim on land used for defence purposes.
§ Mr. ReynoldsLand which can be given up is disposed of when it has been established, by offering it first to the other Services and then to other Government Departments, that there is no further Government use for it. The method of disposal is normally by sale at public auction or by tender. It is sold by private treaty only in cases where particular needs of public and local authorities are established and where, in certain cases of agricultural land, former owners put forward special claims.
§ Mr. Deedesasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total acreage of land held at present by the three Service Departments.
§ Mr. Reynolds628,000 acres. A further 81,000 acres is used under licence from the owners.
§ Mr. Deedesasked the Secretary of State for Defence what additional demands have been made by the Army for training areas during the 12 months ended 1st June 1965.
§ Mr. ReynoldsThe extent of the Army's training areas is always under review but no specific decision to acquire more land was made during this period.
§ Mr. Deedesasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total acreage of land at present held for Army training.
§ Mr. ReynoldsThe Army Department holds 329,000 acres for training and makes use of a further 70,000 acres under licence from the owners.
§ Mr. Deedesasked the Secretary of State for Defence what machinery exists for consultation between his Department and that of the Minister of Land and Natural Resources with regard to the acquisition of additional land for defence purposes.
§ Mr. ReynoldsMy right hon. Friend would consult his right hon. Friend the Minister of Land and Natural Resources about any acquisition of land for defence purposes that affected the use and availability of land in the country in any significant way. No special machinery is necessary.