NI Executive could miss out on £1b sale of military bases

Ulster Unionist Assembly member for Fermanagh & South Tyrone, Tom Elliott MLA has warned that the sale of military land in Northern Ireland is expected to be retained by the Ministry of Defence to help fund army operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Tom said: "There have been suggestions that the Labour government cannot contemplate any question of gifting these sites to the Executive poses another serious blow to Executive with a possible loss of £1b in extra money or gift of valuable sites for Northern Ireland PLC.

"Despite the DUP stating that they would secure a "peace dividend" from Gordon Brown which never materialised and questions around what was promised from the Labour Party if DUP MP's supported the 42 day vote in the commons, it appears that any possibility of £1billion in extra money for Northern Ireland through this source may have been scuppered by the Government.

"Under the previous Executive which was dominated by the Ulster Unionist Party and SDLP they were promised and received the ownership of some bases in Belfast, Londonderry and of course the Maze. At the present time the twin sites at Lisanelly and St Lucia in Omagh which have been discussed as a possible site for shared schools, could be in doubt.

"With present dire economic downturn and bailing out banks in the UK with billions of pounds, Gordon Brown will find it even more difficult to deliver this peace dividend to Northern Ireland. This on top of the inactivity to progress any development on the Maze site would not instil any confidence in government to make further similar provision to the Office of First and deputy First Minister."