§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in carrying out the Nugent Committee Report's recommendation with regard to Shotley (HMS "Ganges"), Suffolk.
§ Mr. JuddTraining will cease at HMS "Ganges" in June 1976. The future of the site is under consideration.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence how far the Nugent Committee's recommendations into defence land at Watchet, Doniford, Somerset have been carried out; and when all the recommendations will be carried out.
§ Mr. JuddThe recommendations are currently being implemented in consultation with the local authority and former owners as necessary.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence why the Nugent Committee's recommendations with regard to land at Swinderby, Lincolnshire, have not been carried out.
§ Mr. JuddFollowing the defence review consideration is being given to transferring a further training task to Swinderby.
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§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence which of the Nugent Committee's recommendations in relation to the Dover-Folkestone complex have been carried out; and why it has not been possible to carry out all of them.
§ Mr. JuddAll the recommendations on the Dover-Folkestone complex have been carried out except for the disposal of Lydden Spout which is dependent on providing alternative facilities elsewhere. These are still being sought.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence, in the light of the evidence to the Nugent Committee on defence lands and its recommendations, what he proposes to do with its land at Andover, Hampshire.
§ Mr. JuddThe proposal to close HQ RAF Support Command at Andover has been announced. It has not yet been decided whether there will be a further defence requirement.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Nugent Committee Report recommendation on the site at Lydney, Gloucestershire, to be carried out.
§ Mr. JuddThe gradual restoration of the land to agricultural use is continuing. Military use ceases as the land is restored. About 10 acres have been restored so far.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he now has for the use of defence lands, and in particular the nature of defence lands at Shoeburyness—three sites—at Estimeals and other sites, which, when the Nugent Report was being made, were affected by decisions relating to a third London airport.
§ Mr. JuddThe abandonment of the plan for a third London airport means that there has been little change in the existing use of defence lands which would have been affected by such a plan. The only change in use has been at the Spadeadam, Cumbria, site which will no longer be a Proof and Experimental Establishment. It will now be used by a small RAF unit providing training facilities.
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§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has carried out the Nugent Committee's recommendation with respect to Chivenor, Devonshire.
§ Mr. JuddThe bulk of the airfield will be handed over to the Property Services Agency for disposal very shortly. A small enclave and some married quarters are being retained for a Royal Air Force Search and Rescue Unit. There may be a long-term requirement for about 80 married quarters.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards defence lands at Perranporth, Cornwall; and if they are necessary in view of the comments of the Nugent Committee Report on Defence Lands.
§ Mr. JuddThe site at Perranporth is currently used by defence establishments for necessary oceanographic research. Part of the site has already been vacated and the remainder, which does not significantly affect public access to the area, will be released when the underwater facilities there become obsolete.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence which of the Nugent Committee's recommendations concerning Nancekuke, Cornwall, have been carried out and which he intends to carry out.
§ Mr. JuddAll the recommendations of the Nugent Committee about the Nancekuke site itself are being carried out. The Committee recommended that the site should be retained but that the technological reasons for its retention should be further considered. These reasons are kept under continuous review.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the reduction in defence expenditure since the Nugent Committee on Defence Lands sat, what defence lands, which were not then recommended for disposal, are now being disposed of or have been disposed of.
§ Mr. JuddBeyond that recommended by the Nugent Committee for disposal, land at the following sites is now being 609W or has been disposed of: Gaydon, Holme-on-Spalding Moor, Manby, Portsmouth (Eastney), Portsmouth (Tipner), Samlesbury, Thorney Island, Waterbeach, Wymeswold, Canterbury.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence why the Nugent Committee's recommendation with respect to Driffield, Yorkshire, has not been carried out.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in implementing the recommendation in the Nugent Committee's Report that land at Steamer Point, Christchurch, Hampshire, would by 1978 no longer be required for defence purposes.
§ Mr. JuddThe Nugent Committee recommendation on the disposal of the Steamer Point site was related to the planning, now in hand, for transferring the work of the Signals Research and Development Establishment, Christchurch, to the Royal Radar Establishment, Malvern. However, no final decision has yet been taken on the date of any relocation of the research facilities at Steamer Point, but we envisage use of the site until the early 1980s.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in releasing defence land at Rugeley, Staffordshire, in the light of the evidence contained in the Nugent Committee's Report on Defence Lands.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in the light of evidence submitted to the Nugent inquiry, he remains satisfied that three major research and development airfields are necessary.
§ Mr. JuddThe need for the three R. and D. airfields at Farnborough, Bedford and Boscombe Down was reaffirmed at the time of the Nugent Report, but, in common with other areas of defence ex-610W penditure, they are subject to review in the search for economies.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence why the proposal of the Nugent Committee on Defence Lands to dispose of 575 acres on the south site at Bedford has not been proceeded with.
§ Mr. JuddThe land in question is let for agricultural purposes. Its possible disposal has to be reconciled with the need to preserve the full operational flexibility and facilities currently required by the Bedford airfield. This is still under consideration.