Lord Home of the Hirselasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will now make a statement on the future use of Gordon Barracks, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, and the Prince of Wales Depot, Cwrt-y-Gollen, Crickhowell.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces (Lord Trefgarne)We announced last year, following a detailed examination of junior recruit828WA training, reductions in the size of the junior training organisation. As part of this process the two smallest training barracks, at Bridge of Don and Cwrt-y-Gollen, were earmarked for possible closure. Since then we have examined the possible alternative uses for these two barracks, and I am pleased to announce that:
Firstly, we have decided to retain the majority of Gordon Barracks for Territorial Army purposes. This will relieve overcrowding in existing Territorial Army sites in Aberdeen and will enable the inadequate facilities at the Hardgate Territorial Army centre to be given up.
Secondly, the Cwrt-y-Gollen barracks will be used in future as a training camp, thereby enabling the majority of the less satisfactory facilities at Monmouth to be given up. In addition, the barracks will provide a Territorial Army centre for a hospital detachment, thus saving the cost of having to build elsewhere.
These decisions mean that the maximum military use will be made of both barracks while at the same time ensuring that the manpower and financial savings arising out of the rationalisation of junior training will still be achieved.