Troops, Northern Ireland (Families) (Hansard, 18 December 1969)

§ Mr. Hattersley

During the debate on 13th November my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for406W the Army said that we were looking into the possibility of increasing the number of accompanied infantry battalions stationed in Northern Ireland: and that H.Q. 24 Brigade would he replaced by H.Q. 8 Brigade, which would serve on an accompanied tour. Plans have now been made for accommodating, with families, two infantry battalions which will be under command of 8 Brigade.

My predecessor announced on 11th July, 1968 that the Joint Anti-Submarine School at H.M.S. "Sea Eagle" was to move from Londonderry at a date not before the end of 1970. In the light of the Army's needs for accommodation, this move will now be brought forward to the end of June, 1970. The Navy's facilities will then be handed over to the Army. We also plan to hand over to the Army, R.A.F. Ballykelly, which is due to close in the Spring or Summer of 1971.

The Government gave an undertaking earlier that there would be no enforced civilian redundancy at H.M.S. "Sea Eagle" before the end of 1970. This undertaking will be honoured. A naval rear party will remain, and the R.N. maintenance base will continue to operate, until the end of 1970.

At that date the rundown of the 400 or so civilian jobs now provided by the Royal Navy at Londonderry will be complete. But the presence of an infantry battalion will continue to generate a useful, though smaller, requirement for civil labour. In addition, the total Service strength of the infantry battalion will be greater than that of the Joint Anti-Submarine School. This extended contribution to the local economy will, I am sure, be welcome to the House, as will be the increase in the number of men serving in Northern Ireland who can be accompanied by their families.

These plans have been prepared in consultation with the Government of Northern Ireland.