HC Deb 07 August 1975 vol 897 cc385-6W
Mr. Lipton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the inquiry proposed in the White Paper on the Nugent Report into the use of Dartmoor for training by the Armed Forces.

Mr. John Silkin

My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Secretary of State for Defence have agreed that a non-statutory public local inquiry should be held, with the following terms of referenceHaving regard to all relevant factors including:

  1. (a) the purposes for which the National Park was designated
  2. (b) the economic constraints set out in the Statement on the Report of the Defence Lands Committee (Cmnd. 5714)
  3. (c) the need for the Army and Royal Marines units based in the south-west to retain their present bases and to have training facilities in the area
  4. (d) public and local opinion on Dartmoor and at possible alternative locations.
To consider
  1. 1. Whether and to what extent the training needs of the Army and Royal Marines which are at present being met in the Dartmoor National Park, could, without unacceptable loss of efficiency, be met elsewhere.
  2. 2. In the light of (1) above what changes, if any, should be made in defence land hold-
    3. 386
  3. ings on Dartmoor and in the extent and nature of their use.
To make recommendations.

Baroness Sharp has accepted an invitation to take the inquiry and it will start in Exeter in mid-November. An announcement will be made shortly about procedures and other details.