§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action has been taken since 1986 to lessen the effects of the firing of guns on the Castlemartin range, Pembrokeshire on the range's neighbour; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeubertA number of measures have been adopted in an effort to reduce the effects of firing at Castlemartin range on the local community. When weather conditions are likely to attenuate firing, noise limitations are placed on the types of ammunition which may be fired and firing on certain areas of the range is prohibited. Night firing is restricted to two hours only between 1830 hours and 2359 hours according to the season and may take place on only two non-consecutive nights per week and not on Fridays, weekends or public holidays; only the quieter ammunition may be fired.
Castlemartin is an extremely important training facility for tank units of the British and Federal German armies. Live firing is an indispensible part of troop training and Castlemartin is one of the few places where this can be done.
Nevertheless, the range authorities maintain close liaison with the local community and seek to do all that is possible, given training needs, to lessen the burden on those living close to the range.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any compensation is paid by his Department in respect of damage caused to civilian properties as a result of vibration from British or West German military guns or aircraft in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeubertThe Ministry of Defence deals with, and, where appropriate, settles, third party claims for compensation for loss of or damage to property in this country arising from the on-duty activities of the United Kingdom's armed forces. The Ministry also deals, under the terms of article VIII of the NATO status of forces agreement (Cmnd. 9363), with claims arising from on-duty activities of the armed forces of other NATO member nations training in this country.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will detail the types of British and West German tank together with their gun calibre used on the Castlemartin range, Pembrokeshire, since 1959, with the dates when new types of tank were introduced.
§ Mr. NeubertThe following types of tank have been used on the Castlemartin range since 1959.
British Date Centurion 20 pounder gun 1959–64 Centurion 105 mm gun 1965–72 Centurion 120 mm gun 1970–date NoteSome minor trials were conducted with Chieftain 120 mm during 1966–67.
155W
German Date M48 90 mm gun 1961–67 Leopard 1 105 mm gun 1968–69 M48 90 mm gun 1970–73 Leopard 1 105 mm gun 1974–75 M48 90 mm gun 1976–79
German Date Leopard 1 105 mm gun 1980–85 Leopard 2 120 mm gun 1986–date NoteThe Federal Republic of Germany first made use of the facilities at Castlemartin in 1961.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any arrangements exist for the provision of finance or other assistance for sound insulation of civilian properties adjacent to military ranges in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeubertThe Ministry of Defence has no arrangements for the provision of finance or other assistance for the sound insulation of civilian properties adjacent to military ranges in the United Kingdom. As with all military activities, however, where a reasonable connection can be made between an activity and specific damage or loss, the Ministry of Defence would be prepared to consider individual claims.