HC Deb 03 May 2000 vol 349 c118W
Angela Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who issues licences to enter his Department's land on Salisbury Plain. [119928]

Dr. Moonie

Licences to enter Salisbury Plain Training Area are issued by Defence Estates once approval has been given by the Commandant Army Training Estate Salisbury Plain. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which the then Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Kilfoyle) gave to her on 17 January 2000,Official Report, column 280W, on the licensing procedure.

Angela Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many licences to enter his Department's land have been issued in(a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999 and (e) 2000 to date; [119926]

(2) how many licences to enter his Department's land have been (a) revoked and (b) curtailed in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997, (iii) 1998, (iv) 1999 and (v) 2000 to date; [119927]

(3) who has responsibility for ensuring that conditions on licences to enter his Department's land are adhered to; [119929]

(4) what action can be taken against (a) bodies and (b) individuals who contravene the terms and conditions of licences to enter his Department's land. [119925]

Dr. Moonie

The information on the number of licences issued to enter Ministry of Defence land and also how many of these have been revoked or curtailed is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Once licences are issued, however, licence holders are required to operate within the terms of their licence. Responsibility for ensuring that this occurs rests both with Defence Estates (an agency of the Ministry of Defence) and the establishment where the activity occurs.

Action on the contravention of any licence is dependent both on the activity involved and in what way the agreement has been contravened. For example, if damage has occurred the licence holder can be asked to pay for any repairs that may be necessary.

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