Guided Weapons Ranges

HC Deb 26 February 1968 vol 759 cc263-4W

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will state the names and acreages of all guided weapons ranges in Great Britain;

(2) if he will take steps to concentrate activity on guided weaponry in Great Britain on to one range, such as Cardigan Bay.

Mr. Reynolds

For major guided weapon systems there are three ranges in Britain, namely:

	Acres
Royal Artillery Range and Trials Establishment, Hebrides.	1,320
Trials Establishment, Royal Artillery, Ty Croes	177
Royal Aircraft Establishment, Aberporth	500 (estimated)

For smaller guided weapons, facilities are provided at the Royal Aircraft Establishment Range, Larkhill, and at various other ranges in Britain not exclusively concerned with guided weapons.

No one range could accommodate all our current guided weapons programmes.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his negotiations with foreign countries for range facilities.

Mr. Reynolds

No such negotiations on our behalf have taken place during the past 12 months.