§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what firing ranges, other than Tipner, are used by the Royal Navy; and how many days in each of the last three years these alternatives have been used. [131430]
§ Mr. CaplinThe Royal Navy has used the following ranges other than Tipner in the Portsmouth area:
Firing ranges Days used MWS (Collingwood) 549 Army Cadet Range at Browndown 90 MWS (Dryad)1 375 Pirbright (Army) 15 Bisley (Army) 60 1Closes 2004.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many days, in each of the last three years, the Tipner firing ranges have been used by(a) Royal Navy and (b) other agencies. [131429]
§ Mr. CaplinThe information requested is only readily available for the last 12 months, but there is no reason to believe that the pattern of usage has changed significantly over the last three years:
- RN—252 days
- Other Agencies—58 days
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future use of the Tipner firing ranges; and if he will make a statement. [131431]
§ Mr. CaplinThe ranges at Tipner are vital to maintaining military training for the Royal Navy in the Portsmouth area, and will remain in use for the foreseeable future.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there has been a recent study into the use of Tipner firing ranges by Brent geese; and if he will make a statement. [131428]
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§ Mr. CaplinThere has been no Ministry of Defence sponsored study into the use of Tipner ranges by Brent Geese. However, the MOD is aware of two recent studies, by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Ecological Planning and Research.