HC Deb 25 February 1946 vol 419 cc1553-4
80. Mr. Keeling

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that before converting the flying boat. factory on Lake Winder-mere to peace-time uses he will seek Parliamentary powers for that purpose, in view of the undertaking given by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 3rd May last and Section 51 (3) of the Requisitioned Land and War Works Act, 1945.

Sir S. Cripps

The undertaking to remove the factory at Windermere will be honoured as soon a? circumstances permit. Meanwhile, as I informed the hon. Member, on 18th February, no re-allocation of the factory will be made without prior consultation with the Council for the Preservation of Rural England. The proposal to use the factory for the housing programme which I mentioned in my former answer has now been dropped.

Mr. Keeling

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that the previous Government gave in this House a promise to remove the factory immediately after the war, and does he not regard himself bound by the promise given by a previous Government on a non-party matter?

Sir S. Cripps

As I have stated, the undertaking to remove the factory will be honoured as soon as circumstances permit, and that will be after the war.