53. Mr. MACLEANasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he can state the price that the Air Ministry are paying for the acquisition of Abbot's Inch aerodrome; whether any conditions are imposed by the sellers; and, if so, whether he can state the conditions of sale?
§ Mr. MONTAGUENo, Sir. The negotiations in connection with this transaction are not yet complete.
54. Mr. MACLEANasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the Glasgow Corporation had earmarked the ground at Abbot's Inch for a municipal aerodrome, and that it is the only ground in the vicinity of Glasgow suitable for this purpose; whether he can state the reasons that have led the Air Ministry to select this place as an aerodrome for the Auxiliary Air Force; and whether he is prepared to reconsider the decision taken?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEAs regards the first two parts of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Springburn (Mr. Hardie) on 19th February. As regards the last part, my Noble Friend, while he has every desire to help the corporation and has interested himself personally in the correspondence in which various suggestions for meeting the difficulty have been made by the Air Ministry, considers nevertheless that it is his duty to retain Abbot's Inch for the use of the Auxiliary Air Force.
Mr. MACLEANSince the hon. Gentleman has informed the House, in reply to a previous question, that the sale is not yet completed, will he reconsider allowing the ground to remain in the possession of the Glasgow Corporation, as it is the only ground that can be used to develop civil aviation in Glasgow?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEI am not sure that I can accept the latter part of the question. The decision, I am afraid, is fairly definite.
Mr. MACLEANWill the hon. Member be prepared to receive a deputation to put the situation before him?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEI am prepared to receive a deputation if there is any alternative suggestion.