It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Charles. It is a particular pleasure to respond to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Will Quince). I congratulate him on not only calling this debate but also commissioning out from Sandhurst as a captain in the Adjutant General's Corps—a significant achievement. Turning to Middlewick Ranges, my hon. Friend rightly highlighted its military history and raised concerns about the disposal of the site for more modern facilities at Fingringhoe. The Ministry of Defence's decision to sell is based on the site becoming surplus to requirements and not offering an optimal environment for training needs due to proximity issues with residential areas and public footpaths, leading to safety risks. Enhanced facilities at Fingringhoe will offer better training options and accommodate an additional 20,000 troops annually. While acknowledging concerns about potential environmental impacts from new development following the sale, the MOD has invested in ecology studies to inform a concept plan recommending over 63% of land be retained as green space and advocating for preservation of ecologically valuable habitats. The local authority will decide on future use through planning processes that balance housing needs with environmental protections. The MOD remains committed to ensuring the site benefits the community and environment sustainably.