Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his plans are for the future of his Department's Saint Athan estate; and if he will make a statement.

A "Better Defence Estate" is a military led review.

In announcing the strategy, I confirmed our proposal to consolidate the estate in Wales and create a specialist light infantry centre at St Athan. Our intent remains to relocate the RAF No. 4 School of Technical Training away from St Athan to co-locate with other military training facilities. As the Department had no long term requirement for the Super Hangar, the facility has been sold to enable Aston Martin Limited to develop a car production facility on the site. This is consistent with the decision in 2003 which transferred the majority of the St Athan site to the Welsh Government under a 125 year development lease.