§ Mr. Sean HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what civilian activities take place at Tern hill barracks; when those activities take place; whether any facilities are provided for a gliding club; and what security arrangements are made for the civilian activities.
§ Mr. NeubertNo civilian activities take place on a regular basis at Clive barracks, Tern hill. Civilian sports clubs have been invited to compete against the resident battalion infrequently. On such occasions, members of the latter have escorted members of the former throughout such visits.
RAF Tern hill, a totally separate organisation whose buildings and real estate abut onto Clive barracks, is the venue for weekend gliding activities. These sessions come under the umbrella of No. 632 volunteer gliding school. All instructors and students are reserve/cadets members of the RAF, the only civilian element in these activities being some civilian instructors who accompany cadets who visit RAF Tern hill at weekends. All RAF Tern hill personnel and visiting glider students reach the airfield through Clive barracks. Their identities are checked on arrival before they are escorted through Clive barracks to the point of entry on to the airfield, a crash gate in the southern perimeter fence which is the dividing line between the barracks and the airfield.
The only other civilians who enter Clive barracks on a regular basis are those who work in the camp and those who deliver goods or provide services. The former categories are subject to normal civil service vetting procedures and the latter group are escorted throughout the period they are within the camp.