§ 41. Sir EDWARD GRIGGasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether his department accepts any responsibility for seeing that the development of airports in this country is not conducted in a haphazard manner, to the detriment of air services, and to the waste of the ratepayers' money?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Philip Sassoon)The full experience and resources of the Air Ministry are at the service of all local authorities to assist them in developing their aerodromes to the best advantage. It is with the same end in view that my Noble Friend asked the Aerodrome Advisory Board to prepare a general survey.
§ Sin E. GRIGGCan the right hon. Gentleman inform me whether any attempt is made beforehand to co ordinate the efforts of great municipalities such as Manchester and Liverpool in matters of this kind? Is advice offered to them?
§ Sir P. SASSOONNo, Sir. It is not really the business of the Air Ministry to dictate to local authorities. It is definitely the duty of the Air Ministry, when a local authority is deciding on a site for an aerodrome, to give it every assistance it can, technically and otherwise, to ensure that the aerodrome will be suitable and safe for the flying public.
§ Sir E. GRIGGDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that unless some Department takes the responsibility of suggesting co-ordination between great municipalities in this matter, there will never be any co-operation at all?
§ Sir P. SASSOONI did say in my answer that my Noble Friend had asked the advisory board to go into the whole question of a survey.
§ Sir E. GRIGGIn that case, will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to defer the undertaking of the new airport for Manchester until the advisory board has had time to report?
§ Sir P. SASSOONNo, Sir. I could not give any such undertaking.
§ Sir E. GRIGGIn view of the very unsatisfactory nature of the right hon. Gentleman's replies, I beg to give notice that I shall call attention to this subject at an early date.
§ 42. Sir E. GRIGGasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air at what date his Department inquired into the suitability of Haydock Park as an air port; who conducted the inquiry; and with what local authorities he came into touch?
§ Sir P. SASSOONNo local inquiry was held by the Air Ministry into the suitability of Haydock Park as an air port.
§ Sir E. GRIGGIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the answer which he gave last week he definitely suggested that this possibility had been considered?
§ Sir P. SASSOONIt had been considered, I believe, by the local authority and the local authority preferred the site at Ringway, which is only six miles away, to the other site which is 16 miles away.
§ Sir E. GRIGGAm I to understand that the right hon. Gentleman's Department made no investigation into the matter?
§ Sir P. SASSOONIt is for the local authority to look out for a suitable site for their aerodrome.
§ 43. Brigadier-General MAKINSasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that by sanctioning the compulsory acquisition of land at Ringway as an air port by the Manchester City Council he has rendered useless the regional planning already prepared at heavy cost; and whether his Department accepts responsibility for taking such matters into account, in view of the fact that the Ministry of Health does not do so?
§ Sir P. SASSOONThe effect of the choice of Ringway as an aerodrome site was taken fully into account by the Ministry of Health. The regional planning scheme will have to be modified in some of its details, but it is by no means the case that it will be rendered useless. This and all other relevant factors were considered before my Noble Friend decided to confirm the order.
§ 44. Sir E. GRIGGasked the Under- Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that Haydock Park is connected with Manchester and Liverpool by an arterial road;and, in view of the fact that there is no such communication with the Ringway site and that the construction of a road to Ringway must burden the ratepayers of Manchester with heavy expenditure, will he reconsider his decision in the matter of the proposed Ring- way ail port?
§ Sir P. SASSOONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, my Noble Friend sees no reason to reconsider his decision. Road extensions which will facilitate access to the site of the Ringway airport from Manchester are in contemplation independently.