asked the Secretary of State for Defence in how many areas his Department has sought to purchase or extend land already in its possession for training purposes indicating (a) the area, (b) the number of hectares involved, (c) the purpose of the training and (d) the number of public rights of way involved.

During the current financial year the Department has sought to purchase or extend land in its possession for training purposes as follows:allowed to enable latest developments to be incorporated into the relevant defence product; and if he will make a statement.

A basic requirement of a fixed price contract is a clearly defined specification of the work. It is Ministry policy to disturb such specifications as little as possible, but where a worthwhile operational or technical improvement was proposed consideration would be given to whether, exceptionally, the contract should be amended in the interests of overall value for money.