§ 52. Mr. J. Griffithsasked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence the total area of land purchased, or leased, by His Majesty's Government for the purpose of defence work at Bridgend and St. Athan, Glamorgan; the cost of such purchase or the annual rental of such land; the total area of land owned, or leased, by His Majesty's Government at Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, constituting the site of munition works during the Great War, and the comparative cost of this site; whether the Government still own, or hold on lease, any of this land at Pembrey; and, if so, what His Majesty's Government propose to do with this site?
§ Sir T. InskipAt Bridgend 1,040 acres of land have been purchased, for which a sum of £95,000 has been paid. At St. Athan negotiations are proceeding for the purchase of 88o acres of land, but as the negotiations have not yet been completed, it is not possible for me to state the cost. As regards Pembrey, the site of the old munitions factory, which covered 778 acres, was purchased for £36,210. After the War the whole of this property was disposed of, the water supply and pumping station covering four acres being sold to the Llanelly Corporation for £55,782 and the rest of the site to a private firm for £30,000. The remaining parts of the question do not arise.
§ Mr. GriffithsDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it in the public interest that the Government should purchase for this purpose the bit of remaining agricultural land in South Wales when there is 'abundant land nearer the Special Areas which could be used?
§ Sir T. InskipIf the hon. Member is referring to the Bridgend site, it was chosen after a wide examination of all the available land in South Wales, which it was desired to help.