HC Deb 01 May 1951 vol 487 cc997-8
44. Mr. Remnant

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether he proposes to hold a public inquiry into the proposed compulsory acquisition of Lea Copse, Finchampstead, as a mortar and grenade range.

Mr. Dalton

No, Sir; I have consulted my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, who does not support the objections raised by two farmers to this proposal.

Mr. Remnant

Is the Minister aware that, whereas the local authorities have been consulted, neither of the two farmers whose land he proposes to take has even been officially notified by the Service Ministry that his land is to be taken? In view of this gross unfairness, will the right hon. Gentleman please reconsider whether the proper method, in order to give fairness to these and to other people, is to hold a public inquiry so that they can voice their objections?

Mr. Dalton

The hon. Member and I have had some correspondence about this and I think he will agree that I have tried to be helpful. The difficulty with regard to these alternative sites is that in the view of the Ministry of Agriculture there is less objection to this site than to the various alternatives, and therefore that Ministry are not prepared to support objections on agricultural grounds.

Mr. Remnant

If the Minister were to ask his right hon. Friend, he would know that no representative of the Ministry of Agriculture has been over the ground.

Major Legge-Bourke

Are we to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's original answer that any local inquiry can now be held only if a Ministry supports private individuals? Does not this deny the right of a private individual to an inquiry?

Mr. Dalton

No, Sir, it does not. There was a White Paper on the acquisition of land for the Services, and all those interested in the progress of the defence programme are anxious to cut out unnecessary delays in inquiries. I am trying in that way to assist the Service Ministers. If the Service Ministers want this land—even if it is of agricultural importance—and the Minister of Agriculture thinks there is less objection to it from his point of view than there is to land anywhere else, then I think the Service Department had better have the land.