HC Deb 02 April 1947 vol 435 c2012
6. Sir Waldron Smithers

asked the Secretary of State for Air the reasons for the delay in derequisitioning Towerfields, Keston, Kent, the release of which was promised in his letter of 31st October; and why, in view of that promise, he has now handed it over to another Government Department.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

In his letter of 31st October, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State informed the hon. Member that the R.A.F. would not require "Towerfields" in future, and that instructions had been given to the G.P.O. to remove the equipment which remained. I regret that this letter did not make it clear that the R.A.F. had no power to release "Towerfields" to Mr. Wright before, in accordance with the general practice, it had been offered for other Government use. The premises are now needed by the Ministry of Health, in order that the Bromley Corporation may rehouse homeless families.

Sir W. Smithers

Is the Minister aware that if ordinary citizens behaved in the way in which the Ministries have behaved in this matter they would find themselves in the dock? Is he also aware that an Englishman's home is no longer his castle?

Mr. Noel-Baker

I do not want to pronounce on the last proposition. I greatly regret that the letter was not more explicit on this point. I should have thought that probably the hon. Member himself might have known the general procedure, but I do not think it is to be expected that Mr. Wright should know, and I am sorry that we did not explain it.