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This will result in some 100ervice personnel being relocated from RAF Scampton to RAF Waddington. Two civilian posts will be part of this move. Other members of civilian staff who work within the airfield support services at RAF Scampton may be affected by the reduction in the use of the station’s runway. This is the subject of further work. Accordingly, we will be formally consulting with the trade unions over the two personnel affected by this relocation. We will also inform the trade unions that other civilians may be affected.

The RAFAT’s relocation will be complete by 31 July 2011.

RAF: Additional Units

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): My right honourable friend, the Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Bob Ainsworth), has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I should like to inform the House that I have decided to establish permanently an additional RAF Regiment Field Squadron, (15 Squadron RAF Regiment) and a RAF Force Protection Wing Headquarters (No 7 RAF Force Protection Wing Headquarters).

15 Field Squadron RAF Regiment and No 7 Force Protection Wing Headquarters will increase the RAF Regiment's capability, will reduce the time that their personnel spend on operational tours, and it is anticipated, have a positive effect on recruitment and retention.

15 Squadron RAF Regiment has been formed by combining and re-roling the two remaining RAF Rapier Squadrons (15 and 26 Squadrons) which were otherwise due to disband on 31 March 2008. The new Squadron was formed as a temporary measure for deployment on Op HERRICK from August 2007 to February 2008. Following this decision it will now be permanently established at RAF Honnington.

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No 7 Force Protection Wing Headquarters will be manned by personnel who have been reallocated from across the RAF to meet current operational priorities and will be based at RAF Coningsby.

Regional Spatial Strategies

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): My honourable friend the Parliamentary-Under Secretary of State (Parmjit Dhanda) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government is publishing today the Yorkshire and Humber plan, the revised regional spatial strategy (RSS), replacing the RSS published in December 2004.

The Yorkshire and Humber plan is crucial to delivering the Government’s sustainable communities and growth agenda in the region. It builds on the foundation of the draft plan published by the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly in 2006 and takes account of the two rounds of public consultation and independent examination in public that followed. In total 2,276 representations were received from 201 people and organisations. Over a third of these representations were expressions of support, while the remainder suggested further or alternative changes to the RSS. I have considered all of these representations, and also updates to the sustainability appraisal/strategic environmental assessment and habitat regulations assessment required under the legislation which confirm that the revised plan should help deliver sustainable development. I have decided that no further major policy changes are required, although amendments and clarifications have been made to various parts of the plan.

The most notable aspects of the final revisions to the plan are as follows:

confirmation of the spatial vision and core approach of the plan as set out in the proposed changes, with recognition of Bradford as a regional city (in addition to Leeds, Sheffield and Hull) and the addition of a reference to helping to deliver the

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target set in the regional economic strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;confirmation of the increased levels of housing growth set out in the proposed changes (over 22,000 per year between 2008 and 2026), with minor increases in three rural districts. This is supported by a new policy, based on Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing and other elements of the plan, to manage the step up in delivery that this requires;confirmation of the increased levels of potential job growth as set out in the proposed changes, with clarification of how these are intended to be delivered in different parts of the region through detailed wording to the policies about city and town centres and employment land reviews;confirmation of the policy set out in the proposed changes that local authorities should set targets for decentralised and renewable or low-carbon energy in new development, with the addition of an interim target of 10 per cent to be used in certain circumstances; and recognition of Robin Hood Airport as a regionally significant investment priority, operational and related development at the airport, and development elsewhere in South Yorkshire arising from the airport’s important role as an economic driver.

The plan represents a step change in addressing housing need in Yorkshire and the Humber but falls short of what is likely to be required in the longer term to meet the Government’s housing Green Paper target. The Yorkshire and Humber Assembly is committed to carrying out a further partial review of the plan to consider housing growth, taking account of latest evidence, eco towns and new growth points. This will be completed by 2011 as required by the Green Paper.

Copies of the Yorkshire and Humber plan are available in the Libraries of both Houses and have been provided for all the region’s MPs and MEPs. Copies will be sent today to all local authorities, the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly and Yorkshire Forward (the Regional Development Agency). Hundreds of other stakeholders will be informed of how to obtain a copy.

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