To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether contractual provisions were included in the documentation for the sale by Defence Estates of the Royal Hospital Haslar to ensure that the vision for the future of the site referred to in the letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence to the hon. Member for Gosport of 16 July 2009 would be fulfilled. (321679)

The future of the site is now a matter for Gosport borough council as the local planning authority.

As I set out in my written ministerial statement on 20 July 2009, Official Report, columns 94-95WS, Our Enterprise has a vision of promoting the quality of life for both individuals residing on the site and for Gosport as a whole and will continue social and health care on the site by providing a “Veterans Village”, student accommodation, community healthcare and a commercial centre as well as residential uses.

Contractual provisions between the Ministry of Defence and the purchaser affecting the development of the site were not included in the sale documentation for the sale of the Haslar site.