§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects that the Hyderabad and Meeanee Barracks at Colchester will cease to be required for military purposes and disposed of. [27896]
§ Dr. ReidIt is too early to say. Future plans for the existing Hyderabad and Meeanee Barracks will depend on progress with the major Private Finance Initiative project which I announced by writing to the hon. Member on 13 October last year, and whose purpose is to redevelop the whole of Colchester Garrison. As I told the hon. Member in a second letter on 14 November, this project holds out the possibility of yielding surplus land for development, and the land that is earmarked for disposal includes the current sites of Meeanee and Hyderabad Barracks.