§ 12. Mr. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that the huts and buildings on the Waltham aerodrome, near Grimsby, are falling into rack and ruin; and if he will hand these buildings over to the local authorities to meet the housing demand.
§ The Secretary of State for Air (Mr. Arthur Henderson)All the buildings at this airfield, except for some which are temporarily being used for storage, were offered for disposal, including use by the local authority, a year ago. I understand that most of them are being used for housing, and that the local authority is, considering whether it can make use of some of the remainder. About 20 huts that are not fit for other use are to be disposed of by the Ministry of Works.
§ Mr. OsborneIs not the Minister aware that the local rural district council have been asking recently for some of these buildings and are waiting for the Department's sanction; and would it not be better to give them permission to handle these huts rather than to let squatters go in and take possession?
§ Mr. HendersonI think that the hon. Gentleman must have been misinformed. Any request by the local council should not be addressed to the Air Ministry, but to the Ministry of Health.