§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the level of tank movements from Detmold depot near Paderborn in West Germany since November 1987.
§ Mr. NeubertI refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman) on 19 November 1987 at column461. The problems associated with the movement of tanks in the Detmold area have been considered in depth by the Detmold garrison Anglo-German co-ordinating committee. As a result it has proved possible to modify the route taken by armoured vehicles to avoid a local school and, where possible, temporary restrictions have been imposed on the movement of tanks at night. A total ban would be unrealistic given the lack of alternative routes and the shortage of daylight during winter months. Movements of armoured vehicles in the Detmold area are controlled by the Detmold garrison commander who notifies the stadt authorities of all such movements. These movements take account of all jointly agreed guidelines and are kept to the minimum level consistent with operational and training requirements.