asked the Minister for Defence if the study referred to in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 26 of 18 June, 1980 in relation to the development of Spike Island has been completed; if so, if he will give details and the timescale for, and costings of, its implementation; if not, if he still intends to use Spike Island although many of its buildings are unsuitable; and if he will make available the study carried out by the military authorities to develop the island, giving details of the number of proposed new buildings with details of cost, timetables, etc.

The report on the study carried out to determine the feasibility and cost of constructing a bridge or a causeway between Haulbowline and Spike Island has just been received in my Department and is being examined.

The outline development plan for the provision of accommodation for the Naval Service on Spike Island, referred to in reply to Question No. 26 of 18 June 1980, is still under consideration.

Is there money provided for this in the Estimates and is there a programme or a specific amount earmarked for the provision of a bridge?

The outline development plan which I have referred to is being examined and the total cost of that, if implemented after examination, would be spread over a number of years. No final decision has yet been made in regard to it.

Could the Minister give some indication as to the time span and when the examination will be completed?

I would hope that the examination would not take very long, but the time span is another question. That depends on all the work involved in the development plan — how long that would take is another question.

A final supplementary, please.

I accept that the plan could take a considerable time, but would it be a week, a month, a year, two years before the examination which the Minister has referred to will be completed? That is what I want to know.

I would not like to put a time limit on it. I would hope that it would be within some months, anyway; this is a big and expensive plan.