§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the training area category of Kirkcudbright range when it is transferred to the Army; and what plans he has to develop Kirkcudbright as an army field training centre. [16831]
§ Mr. SoamesThe Kirkcudbright training area will be a district training asset administered by Army headquarters, Scotland. There are no plans at present to develop Kirkcudbright as an Army field training centre.
§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for provision of facilities for non-infantry units at the Kirkcudbright range; if he will list the types of non-infantry training to be authorised there; and on what date such training is scheduled to start. [16876]
§ Mr. SoamesApart from continued use of the existing demolition area by the Royal Engineers no specific facilities will be provided for use by non-infantry units. The area will also be used by the Royal Artillery for the firing of the multiple launch rocket system. No other non-infantry training has been authorised.
§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the provision of infantry training facilities at the Kirkcudbright range; if he will list the type of infantry training to be authorised there; what will be the maximum number of infantry personnel using the area at any one time; and on what date infantry training is scheduled to start. [16877]
§ Mr. SoamesInfantry dry tactical training has been conducted at Kirkcudbright since September 1995. We now plan to develop the infantry ranges to accommodate the live firing of small arms and support weapons as well. The maximum number of infantry personnel using the range at any one time will be approximately 500.