§ Mr. Russell Johnstonasked the Minister of State for Defence in view of the pressure on land and coastal resources in Great Britain, whether any joint studies have been undertaken between his Department and the Ministry of Technology to see if certain areas and facilities can be shared by an establishment of both Departments as, for example, at Westfreugh or Castle Martin in Pembrokeshire.
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§ Lord BalnielJoint studies have been undertaken by my Department with the Ministry of Technology on the most effective use of aircraft weapon ranges and in connection with the possibility of accommodating elsewhere some of the facilities of the Proof and Experimental Establishment, Shoeburyness, My Department makes limited use of the Ministry of Technology ranges at West Freugh and at Aberporth. The Ministry of Defence range at Castle Martin is fully used for training purposes, including N.A.T.O. training. We recognise the value of sharing coastal facilities wherever possible, but at present there appears to be relatively little scope for further sharing between the two Departments.