Written question asked by Lindsay Hoyle (Labour) on Tuesday, 17 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 January 2006. It was answered by Adam Ingram (Labour) on Monday, 23 January 2006 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Gibraltar

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future role in Gibraltar of the (a) RAF, (b) Royal Navy, (c) Army, (d) the Department's Gibraltarian workforce, (e) Navy, Army and Airforce Institution, (f) Department Hospital and (g) Department's schools.

Answer: There are no plans to change Gibraltar's current military role, which centres on providing a forward mounting base and other facilities to support overseas operations. This role will be kept under regular review.An Infrastructure Service Provider (ISP) is to be introduced covering a number of facilities management functions. Introduction of the ISP will be based on a fair and open competition, which includes consideration of an in-house option. Efficiency measures will be achieved without reduction in output. These are essential to safeguard the Ministry of Defence's long-term commitment to Gibraltar.The Navy, Army and Airforce Institution (NAAFI) facility in Gibraltar, providing a range of retail services comparable with those at other overseas stations where UK armed forces and their families are based, is located at Devil's Tower Camp. It is NAAFI's intent to open an additional facility at Europa Point in the near future.An Integrated Healthcare Facility at Devil's Tower Camp will replace the Royal Naval Hospital (RNH) and the Joint Medical Centre and Dental Unit (JMDU). This project is on schedule to open in November 2007, at which point the RNH and JMDU sites will be handed over to the Government of Gibraltar.Improvements are being made to the internal condition of St. Christopher School, and a programme is under way to develop management at the school.

Secondary information