4. Lieut.-Colonel Geoffrey Clifton-Brownasked the Secretary of State for Air when the large amount of valuable farming equipment, such as manure drills, Fordson tractors, mole drainers, etc., now deteriorating and rusting in the open at Ingham, Suffolk, will be released for public auction.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerIngham is a collecting depot for surplus and unserviceable equipment from 62 stations of the R.A.F. Much of this equipment passes through the depot with very little delay. The covered storage is not adequate to hold it all, and what is available must, therefore, be used for the machinery and other goods which are of the greatest value and most liable to deteriorate. I am considering whether the storage space could be increased, or whether other improved arrangements could be made. I recently arranged that all farming equipment at Ingham and elsewhere, which is no longer needed by the R.A.F., shall be handed over to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture.
Lieut.-Colonel Clifton-BrownCould the Minister speed up this action, as many of the farm implements have been there for a very long time and will become quite useless unless disposed of rapidly?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerAgricultural implements often have to lie in the open, even on farms; but of course I will try to speed it up. Indeed, that is what I have done; that is the effect of the last part of my answer.
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the R.A.F. are 2012 not using many of these agricultural implements?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI would like notice of that.