HC Deb 25 January 1999 vol 324 cc10-1W
Mrs. Gilroy

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements exist for publicising the public access arrangements to the defence estate; and what plans he has to publish the arrangements on the internet. [67003]

Mr. Spellar

Public access to the Defence Estate is promoted via the booklet "Walks on MOD Lands", which is issued on request free of charge. There are also leaflets detailing local access arrangements, available from a number of establishments. Whereas access has to be restricted at certain times because of live firing for example, details of the closures are published in the local press and in some areas, broadcast on the local radio. The Dartmoor training area also has a manned telephone line to answer queries, as do some other training areas. It is intended to publish information about access to the Defence estate on the Internet, although no date has yet been set.

Mrs. Gilroy

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what income was received by the MoD estate from(a) agricultural lettings, (b) sporting rights and (c) commercial lettings in each year since 1994–95. [67004]

Mr. Spellar

The information requested is shown in the table:

£
(a) Agricultural lettings (b) Sporting rights (c) Commercial lettings
1994–95 3,787,972 75,974 5,307,870
1995–96 4,011,546 44,276 5,693,040
1996–97 3,794,769 51,973 5,897,999
1997–98 3,674,562 58,762 9,036,551
1998–99 3,802,096 43,521 7,644,033

Notes:

1. The figures shown for 1994–95 and 1995–96 are approximate totals as a dedicated computerised system was not set up until 1996.

2. The figures for 1998–99 have been estimated up until the end of the financial year.