HC Deb 27 July 2000 vol 354 cc742-4W
Mr. Livsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has had from(a) farming unions and (b) the Country Landowners Association in Wales, with regard to transfer of responsibility of the Defence Estates management to the private sector. [132733]

Dr. Moonie

None.

Mr. Livsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if agreements reached between his Department and owners of land adjoining land owned by his Department will be fully honoured following transfer of the Defence Estates management to the private sector. [132734]

Dr. Moonie

As the hon. Member is aware, the Army are seeking a Strategic Partner to assist with the management of their estate and the provision of training services in Great Britain. In this context, such agreements will be fully honoured.

Mr. Livsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff will be made redundant as a result of his Department's Defence Estates being transferred to the private sector in Wales, indicating the numbers involved in each defence location in Wales. [132737]

Dr. Moonie

The Department's Defence Estate in Wales is not being transferred to the private sector. The Ministry of Defence seeks to identify a commercial partner to support the work of the Army in the management of their estate and the provision of training services in Great Britain. The chosen partner will provide all the non-core functions considered appropriate. The strategic partnering project is in a very early stage and it is not possible to say with any certainty what the impact of introducing a strategic partner will be on the existing operation and on the consequent employment opportunities for local staff.

Mr. Livsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what statutory mechanism will be put in place to settle disputes between adjoining landowners and occupiers of land and the company managing the Defence Estates, following transfer to the private sector. [132736]

Dr. Moonie

As the hon. Member is aware, the Army are seeking a Strategic Partner to assist with the management of their estate and the provision of training services in Great Britain.

In this context, there are no plans to put in place such a statutory mechanism. Disputes will be settled as they arise, as they are now.

Mr. Livsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is in respect of privatisation of his Department's Training Land Estate. [132738]

Dr. Moonie

The Department's Training Land Estate is not being transferred to the private sector, although, as the hon. Member is aware, the Army are seeking a Strategic partner to assist with the management of their Estate and the provision of training services in Great Britain.

Mr. Livsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that the current nominal level of rental charges for sheep grazing on his Department's grazings will be secured after privatisation and continued at current levels. [132735]

Dr. Moonie

There are no plans to transfer the Defence Estate to the private sector, although as the hon. Member is aware, the Army are seeking a Strategic Partner to assist with the management of their estate and the provision of training services in Great Britain. Irrespective of any partnering arrangements that may be entered into, grazing charges will continue to be set in the same way as they are now, against a number of factors including annual income trends, stock prices and farm rental comparisons.