§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the plans for the(a) Royal Naval headquarters at Northwood and (b) Pitreavie castle, Fife; what ranks of personnel and people will be stationed at them; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonCurrently, and for the foreseeable future, the functions of these headquarters are as follows:
Northwood is the headquarters of Commander-in-Chief Fleet, who also fills the NATO appointments of Commander-in-Chief Channel and Commander-in-Chief Eastern Atlantic; and of the Air Officer Commanding 18 group, who also fills the NATO appointments of Commander Air Eastern Atlantic and Commander Air Channel.
Pitreavie is the headquarters of Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland, and of Air Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland, who both also fill NATO sub-area appointments relating to the Channel and Eastern Atlantic areas.
It is not our practice to give details of the ranks of personnel stationed at particular locations.