§ Mr. John BrowneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if a date has been set for the conversion of the Gurkha recruiting, resettlement and welfare cantonment at Dharan to civilian use; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonAs part of my Department's drive to rationalise support and infrastructure facilities, the site at Dharan is to be handed over to the Nepalese Government for civilian use with effect from 1 January 1990. The use to which the site will be put after that date is a matter for the Nepalese Government, but it is our understanding that the provision of health facilities, centred around the existing British military hospital, is likely to be the major priority. The British Government have expressed willingness to offer aid to assist in the transition to Nepalese management. It should be stressed
Year Allowed Per cent. Dismissed Per cent. 1983–84 23,362 89.4 2,778 10.6 1984–85 21,475 87.7 3,015 12.3 1985–86 21,656 87.8 3,010 12.2 1986–87 22,610 88.5 2,949 11.5 1987–88 24,106 87.2 3,539 12.8 Planning appeal decisions are as follows:
416W
Year Allowed Per cent. Dismissed Per cent. Withdrawn Undetermined at year end 1983 241 35.9 431 64.1 167 430 1984 229 36.3 402 63.7 161 444 1985 261 42.5 353 57.5 172 570 that the decision to convert the Dharan site to civilian use is not related to, or dependent upon, decisions on the future of the Gurkhas as a whole.