§ 27. Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his long-term plans for the use of Throckmorton airfield in Worcestershire. [156954]
§ Dr. MoonieThe site is used as an outdoor 'quiet electromagnetic test range' for testing technologies developed at the associated DERA site at Malvern, the main benefit being the large amount of open space available. It is envisaged that this activity will continue into the foreseeable future. Several commercial tenants currently use the former hangars for business activity—employing about 100 local people in total—and the option to further develop this activity exists.
A part of the site is currently being used by MAFF in support of foot and mouth related activities. It is not anticipated that this usage will have any impact on long-term plans for the site, which offers a brown field location that has the potential to be used, in full or part, to assist in the economic development and prosperity of this region. DERA continues to discuss with both Regional and Local government representatives possible future developments in the context of the County and Local Structure Plans.
It is intended that Throckmorton airfield, now known as DERA Pershore, becomes part of NewDERA plc on 1 July 2001.