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DEFENCE CLOSURES: The Royal Navy is to centralise its Support Command headquarters operations at two sites in South-west England, leading to the closure of two other defence sites. Nicholas Soames, Minister for the Armed Forces, disclosed last night that some staff would be based at Abbey Wood in Bristol with the main team at Ensleigh in Bath. The Foxhill and Spring Quarry defence sites near Bath will be closed and the lease allowed to run out on office buildings in the centre of Bath. "I fully appreciate the impact that the closure of defence sites can have on the local community and we would investigate any possible alternative MOD use for sites being given up," he said.

nBUSINESS TODAY - Commons: Treasury questions; Prime Minister's questions (Commons Leader Tony Newton standing in); Council Tax Limitation (England) (Maximum Amounts) Order. Lords: Prisoners (Return to Custody) Bill, Committee; Carers (Recognition and Services) Bill, Third Reading; Insurance Companies (Reserves) Bill, Third Reading; Disability Discrimination Bill, Committee.