asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much land he has already purchased at Warcop since 1979 for dry training purposes; and to what extent such land is contiguous to the present range.

We have purchased some 36 acres of land at Warcop for dry training in two lots since 1979. The larger of these, a 35-acre field, is connected with the existing range by the smaller, a 7m-wide strip, which is used for access purposes only.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been carried out into the potential use of land to the north west and south east of the present firing posts on Warcop ranges for the purposes of dry training.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been made of the use of land at Spadeadam for infantry dry training areas.

Infantry dry training is already carried out at Spadeadam.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that orienteering and map reading exercises undertaken on the land he proposes to purchase at Warcop for dry training will be wholly confined within the boundaries of the dry training area.

It is our policy that dry training exercises, including orienteering and map reading, may be undertaken outside military training area boundaries subject to the prior agreement of private landowners.