§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will make an announcement regarding the site at Worthy Down in Winchester; and if he will make a statement. [123339]
§ Mr. IngramI have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Member to my written ministerial statement of 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 2WS. The Defence Training Review identified Worthy Down as a site that was likely to be surplus to Defence requirements. Our benchmark assumption is that the training currently delivered at Worthy Down would be moved to RAF Halton, but this is subject to the evaluation of the proposals that will be developed with Industry. We do not expect to make a final decision on the future of Worthy Down before 2005.