HC Deb 26 November 1996 vol 286 c199W
Mr. Murphy

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations have been made to him regarding the location of the royal defence medical school. [5567]

Mr. Soames

A number of representations have been received about the proposed transfer of the royal defence medical college from Millbank to HMS Dolphin.

Mr. Murphy

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he proposes to transfer the royal defence medical school to HMS Dolphin, Gosport. [5565]

Mr. Soames

The royal defence medical college will move from Millbank to HMS Dolphin at Gosport during 1997.

Mr. Murphy

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the royal defence medical school; and if he will make a statement. [5566]

Mr. Soames

The royal defence medical college supervises the basic and higher professional training of all service medical officers, and all training for nurses and medical technicians. In order that the college may fulfil its wider role as the centre of excellence for military medicine, it is planned to relocate it at HMS Dolphin close to the tri-service hospital at Haslar.

The new health studies division of the college is already located at HMS Dolphin in temporary accommodation; it will expand and move into a purpose-built building next year. The remaining college facilities at Millbank, including postgraduate medical education, nurse, laboratory technician and operating department practitioner training, defence medical entomology and the library, will move to HMS Dolphin next year when accommodation becomes available.