§ 22. Mr. Deedesasked the Secretary of State for Air how many persons are in receipt of payments in respect of land held on requisition by his Department.
§ Mr. A. HendersonThe exact figure could not be obtained without considerable research, but a fair estimate is 3,000.
§ 23. Mr. Deedesasked the Secretary of State for Air what is the acreage of land held on requisition by his Department.
§ Mr. A. HendersonFifty-seven thousand three hundred acres.
§ Mr. DeedesCan the Secretary of State say what reduction that represents over the last 12 months?
§ Mr. HendersonYes, 32 per cent.
§ Mr. ProfumoWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman institute an inquiry to see whether there is some of this land which is not necessary to the Service? If he could cut down the rental which has to be paid for some of that land, the money saved could then be allocated to provide better quarters.
§ Mr. HendersonI should like to consider that, but I should prefer the hon. Member to give me particulars of any land which he thinks is being used unnecessarily by the R.A.F.
§ 27. Brigadier Medlicottasked the Secretary of State for Air the total acreage of land now occupied by his Department in Great Britain.
§ Mr. A. HendersonAbout 191,000 acres.
§ Brigadier MedlicottCan the Secretary of State say, even if only very approximately, what proportion of this total is represented by air stations and airfields not in active use?
§ Mr. HendersonNot without notice.