asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, following consultations on the future shape of the Territorial Army, he will ensure that surplus buildings and land are not put on the market for sale, but offered first to local authorities for educational or other community purposes.

Once it has been established, following our normal procedure for the disposal of property surplus to Service requirements, that there is no further Government requirement for this property I will certainly arrange to let the local authorities know when it is available for sale.