HC Deb 29 November 1949 vol 470 cc922-3
9 Mr. Dye

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether it is his intention to allow any of the Stanford Battle Area to be cultivated for crops in 1950 as in recent years;

(2) whether he has completed arrangements with the owners of land involved in the Stanford Battle Area;

(3) what additional lands he proposes to acquire in the neighbourhood of the Stanford Battle Area; and for what purpose.

Mr. M. Stewart

As much land as possible in the Stanford Battle Area will be let for cultivation during 1950, but since intensive training will be carried out there, the area let will be less than hitherto. Arrangements with the owners of land involved in the Stanford Battle Area have not yet been completed. Negotiations are proceeding. My Department is at present considering the acquisition of West Tofts Camp, consisting of 43 acres, as a week-end training centre, to be used in connection with the Stanford Area.

Mr. Dye

Is my hon. Friend aware that none of the farmers who had previously been cultivating this land have been notified that they can do so again; that if they had been notified, much of the land would have already been cropped; and is it not of the utmost importance that this land, which has grown good crops for the last three years, should be cropped again as much as possible?

Mr. Stewart

Yes, Sir. As I have indicated, we shall not be able to make as much available for cultivation as in the past, but with regard to what we can make available I will see that the arrangements are pressed on.

Mr. Dye

Will my hon. Friend also see that the arrangements with the owners of the land are completed so that the boundaries of this area are defined and known, and that payment is made for it; and is he not aware that his Department has already put up notices that it is already War Department property, although it has not yet been paid for?

Mr. Stewart

With regard to most of the owners, we are still awaiting replies from them.

Brigadier Medlicott

Would the Minister confer with his colleagues upon the general policy of land acquisition, because, bit by bit, more and more of the land of Norfolk is being taken by Service Departments, and farmers are quite uncertain where it is going to stop?

Mr. Stewart

That is another and a larger question.