§ 19. Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about progress on the Joint Services Command and Staff College. [6525]
§ Dr. ReidSince the Joint Services' Command and Staff College came into being on 1 January this year in interim accommodation, some 16 Junior Division Courses and one Higher Command and Staff Course have been run under its auspices. Good progress has been made on the augmentation of the temporary Bracknell site, where the new joint Advanced Command and Staff Course (ACSC) and the next Navy Junior Division Course will start in the autumn. The beginning of the ACSC, for some 327 students including 90 from overseas, will be marked by an inauguration ceremony at Bracknell in early September. Bracknell will remain the primary interim site until a permanent facility is available, when it will be offered for disposal. Since their selection as preferred bidder in February, negotiations have continued with Defence management regarding their proposals for a permanent JSCSC at Shrivenham. A contract will be placed when negotiations have been satisfactorily completed.