asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he will give an assurance that a local public inquiry will be held before a final decision is taken to retain the R.A.C. range at Warcop, Westmorland, as a permanent military training area.

My right hon. Friend is at present in correspondence with local authorities and the C.P.R.E. about the proposed requirement of the War Department for an Armoured Fighting Vehicle Range at Warcop and I am unable at present to say whether the requirement, as eventually modified, would still meet with such objections, on the grounds of public interest, as to necessitate a public local inquiry.