§ Mr. Thurnhamasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the proposals to transfer defence establishments to the north of England.
§ Mr. Norman LamontA mixture of historical and practical reasons account for the present concentration of defence establishments in southern England. A more even spread across the regions would be preferable, particularly in areas of high unemployment, and we are examining the scope for this. Proposals must, of course, be justifiable in both economic, and defence, as well as regional, terms
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide details of the costs of hiring a firm of outside consultants to advise on location and dispersal of Ministry of Defence establishments.
§ Mr. Norman LamontIt is not the practice to disclose details of payments between the Ministry and a contractor.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Defence what account he took, prior to deciding to engage a firm of chartered surveyors, to advise on location and dispersal of Ministry of Defence establishments, of the availability of expertise in this matter with the Civil Service.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThere is considerable expertise in estate management within the Civil Service, but on this occasion it was thought right to supplement this advice with the view of a leading professional in private practice.