§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the respective roles of the Property Services Agency and the Ministry of Defence in the construction of the Falkland Islands airport.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Ministry of Defence determines the requirements for the Falkland Islands airfield and finds the money from the Defence Budget. The planning, construction and maintenance of building and civil engineering works needed to support the task are provided by the Property Services Agency. The PSA accounting officer is accountable for the funds spent.
The Ministry of Defence is responsible for the coordination and definition of defence land requirements and authorisation and overall control of expenditure on them. The directorate of estate surveying services in the PSA gives the Ministry of Defence advice on all professional aspects of land acquisition and conducts the negotiations for purchase within the authorisation given by the Ministry of Defence.