HC Deb 17 January 1983 vol 35 c34W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will set up a new defence lands committee along the lines of the Nugent committee of 1971–73 to review all defence lands requirements before any purchase of land at Knoydart in Scotland takes place;

(2) if he will list those training activities which he would expect to be carried out at Knoydart in Scotland if it were purchased; where those activities are now carried out; and why they cannot continue to be carried out either at existing defence lands or on areas of the Falkland Islands.

Mr. Wiggin

We have decided that, although the acquisition of Knoydart would have met some part of a growing training need and provided excellent facilities for the infantry and Royal Marines which are not available elsewhere in the United Kingdom, the many difficulties associated with the proposal outweighed the benefits. We shall not therefore be pursuing our acquisition of the estate.

Forward to