§ Sir A. Meyerasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about future plans for the depots of the Prince of Wales's Division.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithThe plans for the reorganisation of infantry depots announced two years ago recognised two exceptions to the general rule that there should be a single depot for each division of infantry. One of these exceptions was the Prince of Wales's Division for which it was considered appropriate to retain a second depot in Wales iself, at Cwrt-y-Gollen, in addition to the depot at Lichfield. Accordingly it was planned to close the third depot of Exeter at he end of 1972.
These plans have now been thoroughly reviewed in the light of the latest circumstances and of representations made to my right hon. Friend and myself. To maintain three depots in the division in the long term would give rise to extra costs in money and manpower which we could not justifiably incur; but, to allow adequate time for reorganisation, the closure of the Exeter Depot has been deferred for two years until the end of 1974, when the site will be required for other purposes. It would also be more expensive to restrict training at Cwrt-y-Gollen to Welsh recruits only and we have decided therefore not to alter previous plans in this respect. Local arrangements at the depot will, however, be made so as to maintain its Welsh character.