§ Angela SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on whose authority permission is given to non-military personnel to have access to his Department's land on Salisbury Plain; and what criteria are used. [104392]
§ Mr. KilfoyleMy Department has a presumption in favour of access wherever this is consistent with military activities, environmental and conservation considerations, the health and safety of the public and the interests of our tenants. Formal applications to use Ministry of Defence land are considered on a case-by-case basis to ensure that none of the above constraints are compromised. All applications for the use of Salisbury Plain are vetted by the Commandant Army Training Estate Salisbury Plain's staff to ensure that live firing, manoeuvre or general military training is not taking place. The primary criterion when assessing access for non-military personnel onto the military estate is their personal safety.