HL Deb 02 April 1973 vol 341 c136WA
LORD MERRIVALE

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (a) whether the review of the principles governing the disposal of surplus Ministry of Defence land to the Gibraltar Government (which is to be carried forward as a matter of urgency) will include land which could become available under the 1965 Lands Memorandum (not yet ratified) and reclaimed land excluded from the terms of the Memorandum;
  2. (b) whether this review will include an examination of all Service land with a view to ensuring that the best possible use is made of it; and
  3. (c) what land has been made available to the Gibraltar Government but has not been taken up and why.

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

The answers to the matters raised in the noble Lord's Question are as follows:

  1. (a) yes;
  2. (b) this matter is being considered in the light of the recommendations of the recently published Third Report of the Expenditure Committee;
  3. (c) the Gibraltar Government have a list of surplus Ministry of Defence sites which could be transferred to them but funds to acquire them have not so far been available; a number of these sites are already being used by the Gibraltar Government.