§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the exclusion of members of the public by his Department from the village of Imber and surrounding lands.
§ Mr. NeubertThe village of Imber and surrounding lands lie within the danger area of Salisbury plain training area, west. This area has been permanently closed to the public since a public inquiry in 1961 on the ground of public safety because of the danger from unexploded ordnance, metal fragments, wire entanglements and open trenches. However, public access is granted by the roads crossing the area on a maximum of 50 days in each year and special church services are held in Imber village once each year in September.
§ Mr. CohenTo as the Secretaruy of State for Defence, what representations he has received since 1979 regarding the continued use of the village of Imber and surrounding lands by the armed forces.
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§ Mr NeubertRetrieving and searching through all the relevant records dating back to 1979 could be done only at disproportionate cost. However, those records which are readily available indicate that recently there have been no representations to the Department regarding the continued use of Imber village and the surrounding land.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what powers he holds the village of Imber and surrounding lands.
§ Mr. NeubertThe Secretary of State for Defence holds land for defence purposes under the Defence Act 1842 and subsequent relevant legislation.