§ Mr. Cyril D. Townsendasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the plans for the rest of the garrison when the Royal Air Force move from Port Stanley airfield to the new airfield at Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe new airfield is of key developmental importance for the Falkland Islands, as the Shackleton report made clear. When it is completed, we propose that the garrison should be concentrated at the Mount Pleasant site, which would then provide essential infrastructure and communications facilities together with improved standards of living and working accommodation for the troops. This concentration is in the interests of economy and will allow us to release the coastals and a number of other ships currently chartered for various purposes. PSA is seeking prices for the construction work. I shall make a further anouncement about the likely cost of the work when sufficient information is available.
§ Mr. O'Brienasked the Secretary of State for Defence by whom the 54 Brewster houses constructed in Port Stanley on the Falkland Islands are currently occupied in terms of military or official rank or position.
§ Mr. RaisonI have been asked to reply.
Houses are allocated by the Falkland Islands Government Housing Committee.
28 houses are currently occupied, I understand, as follows:
Expatriate employees of the Falkland Islands Government—12
414WIslanders — 10 (of whom 8 are Falkland Islands Government employees)
Military — 2 (1 Colonel and 1 MOD civilian in the Principal grade)
Officials — 2 (Civil Commissioner's staff)
Others — 2 (temporary accommodation for the housing contractor)