Following a question from local Member of Parliament Sheryll Murray, the Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon. William Hague, has made assurances that further opportunities for training NATO partners will be sought for Devonport and HMS Raleigh.
Sheryll commented, “This is good news and shows what a fantastic asset these facilities are for both our local communities and for our country. I will continue to work to ensure that these world class facilities remain viable and that full use is made of them.”
Ends
House of Commons debates, 14 December 2010, 2:30 pm
Sheryll Murray (South East Cornwall, Conservative)
What discussions, if any, did the Secretary of State have at the NATO summit to encourage the use of the excellent training facilities at HMS Raleigh and Flag Officer Sea Training in Devonport, which contribute significantly to the local economy in the south-west?
William Hague (Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; Richmond (Yorks), Conservative)
Although we did not discuss that specifically at the NATO summit, it is clearly important that NATO nations work together on training. It is also part of our new defence treaty with France that the UK and France will work together to a much greater extent on sharing training facilities, so I will ensure that, between the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence, we look at further opportunities in the area that my hon. Friend has raised.