§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact on army training of the delay in making improvements to the Otterburn ranges; and if he will make a statement. [129134]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 6 July 2000]: In 1995 my Department submitted a Notice of Proposed Development (NOPD) to the Northumberland National Park Association for the redevelopment of infrastructure at Otterburn Training Area (OTA). This redevelopment is essential to enable training of AS90 and MLRS units at regimental level. This remains an absolute requirement that cannot occur anywhere else in the UK. Since the NOPD was submitted our proposals have been thoroughly examined by two Public Inquiries (PI) and we are still awaiting the outcome.
As a result of our inability to develop OTA, AS90 and MLRS units have not been able to conduct the full range of special-to-arm training that is a necessary precursor to deploying with other formations on combined arms training. As a result, individual Brigades will not be trained sufficiently in all aspects of combined arms war fighting that would enable them to react to short notice operational deployments world wide, as envisaged under the Strategic Defence Review. This has direct consequence for our ability to meet readiness liabilities for the Joint Rapid Reaction Force (JRRF).
The results of the Public Inquiries are currently being considered by the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions and I am hopeful that a decision will be forthcoming later this year. If our application is successful and allowing time for the necessary construction work on the training area, we expect that AS90 and MLRS units will be able to commence manoeuvre training at Otterburn in 2004.