§ Mr. OttawayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to continue the tradition of the field gun competition in the proposed Horse Guards Tattoo. [96736]
§ Mr. HoonA Military Tattoo will continue to be held in London from 2001 onwards. Using the spectacular backdrop of Horse Guards Parade, the Tattoo will build on the traditional pageantry that has been such a popular element of the Royal Tournament over the years and a special feature of London in summer.
However we will not continue with the Royal Navy Field Gun competition. In part this is because the event cannot readily be run at Horse Guards Parade due to the surface and the special fixings that are required to meet stringent Health and Safety regulations. But also, the Field Gun competition accounted for more than half of the personnel resources used for the Tournament, some 16,000 personnel-days each year. This could not be justified in the light of operational commitments and the other demands placed on our service personnel.
The Royal Navy is now keen to look to the future and concentrate on supporting events that more accurately reflect the training and operational activities of the Service in the next millennium.