§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many rifle ranges in the United Kingdom have been closed in the last five years; what are the names of the ranges; and in each case what was the reason for closure.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownEighteen rifle ranges have been closed in the last five years:
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§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many rifle ranges have been temporarily taken out of use during the last 12 months; for what reason; and when they will be returned to use.
Range Reason When reopened or to be reopened Purfleet, Essex (Three ranges out of a five range complex). Maintenance of stop butts October 1977. Gosport (Browndown), Hants. Reductions in civilian manpower Not known. To be reviewed in 1978. Churn, Berkshire Safety Not known. RMA Sandhurst, Surrey Realignment due to building in vicinity. Not known. Chickerell, Dorset Safety September 1977. Mere, Wiltshire Safety Reopened. Bulford, Wiltshire Maintenance Reopened. Llansilin, Shropshire Lack of usage due to move of nearby unit. Not known. Wedgnock, Warwickshire Safety, due to subsidence of firing point and stop butts. Not known. Ross on Wye, Herefordshire Problems over firing rights Not known. Negotiations are in progress. Sealand, Cheshire Repairs to stop butts Not known. Cragbank, Lancashire Repairs to fences July 1977. Bromeswell, Suffolk Maintenance Reopened. Penally, Dyfed Maintenance Reopened. Severn Tunnel, Gwent Maintenance Reopened. Ty Croes, Gwynedd Reductions in civilian manpower Not known. Totley, Yorkshire Safety Not known. Cwm Gwdi, Powys Maintenance Reopened.
§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many rifle ranges he plans to close during the next 12 months; what are the names of the ranges; and what were the reasons for closure.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownOn present plans, two ranges are due for temporary closure in the next 12 months:
Range Reason for Closure Bulford, Wiltshire Major maintenance work. Rowlstone, Humberside Realignment because of coastal erosion.
§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Defence, in the light of the fact that the rifle range at Beckingham, Notts., is now used by 150 military units at least, and is, therefore, no longer available for use by schools and rifle clubs whether this situation provides adequately for military training.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownI am satisfied that training of military units is not suffering as a result of the heavy usage of the Beckingham range.
§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is the policy of the Army Department to offer ranges
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§ Mr. Robert C. BrownTwenty ranges have been temporarily taken out of use during the past 12 months, of which six have already been reopened and a further four are due to reopen before the end of this year.
becoming surplus to requirement first to the Territorial and Volunteer Reserve and then to civilian rifle clubs; how many ranges have been so offered in the last two years; and what were the names of the ranges.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThe needs of the TAVR are taken into account before a range is declared surplus to defence requirements. On disposal, the interest of other Government Departments, former owners—in the case of land of an agricultural nature—and local authorities is first considered before sale on the open market, when civilian rifle clubs may bid for the property. Ranges declared surplus in the last two years, generally as part of a barrack complex and associated land, have been dealt with in that way.
§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many units of the Army Cadet Force and the Combined Cadet Force have ceased to shoot with full bore rifles in the last five years because rifle ranges are no longer available.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThis information is not readily available. I am making 133W the necessary inquiries and will write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many rifle ranges are now available for use by civilian and school rifle clubs; what was the number five years ago; and what is his policy in this respect.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThis information is not readily available. I am making the necessary inquiries and will write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many rifle ranges are now available for use by civilian and school rifle clubs in Leicestershire and in the East Midlands; and what were the same numbers five years ago.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThis information is not readily available. I am making the necessary inquiries and will write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied that sufficient rifle ranges will be available in the future for use by civilian and school rifle clubs.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThe training of the Regular Army, TAVR and cadets
Year Royal Navy Royal Marines Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service Women's Royal Naval Service Locally Entered Personnel 1968 … 82,627 9,167 577 3,249 1,899 1969 … 78,591 8,586 563 2,993 1,725 1970 … 74,898 8,255 565 2,722 1,585 1971 … 71,240 7,957 581 2,735 1,531 1972 … 70,875 8,034 629 2,838 1,141 1973 … 69,343 8,258 649 2,978 807 1974 … 66,852 7,844 704 2,939 762 1975 … 64,648 7,851 696 3,013 779 1976 … 64,441 7,765 669 3,238 722 1977 … 64,559 7,687 664 3,303 480
§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving officers there are in the Royal Navy of and above the rank of rear-admiral; and how this figure compares with the figure in February 1974.
§ Mr. DuffyThis information is not available for the exact dates requested.
The latest figures show that there were 61 Royal Naval officers of the rank of rear-admiral and above on 31st March 1977 and 70 on 31st March 1974. The
134Wmust take priority on MOD small arms ranges. However, I can assure the hon. Member that civilian rifle clubs affiliated to the National Rifle Association or the National Small Bore Rifle Association will continue to be permitted to use MOD and TAVRA ranges when these are available.