HC Deb 10 March 1954 vol 524 cc2225-6
32. Mr. Mitchison

asked the Under secretary of State for Air which airfields not at present in use in Northampton shire he proposes to retain and which to hand back, and when.

Mr. Ward

There are seven airfields in Northamptonshire under Air Ministry control but not in current use by the Royal Air Force. Of these, four— Chelveston, Chipping Warden, Harrington and Polebrook—are being kept against future Royal Air Force requirements and three—Desborough, Peterborough and Spanhoe—will shortly be transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture. In addition, we expect later this year to give up using Grafton Underwood, and we shall then be able to derequisition it.

Mr. Mitchison

Cannot the Undersecretary be a little more hopeful about Harrington, which has been unoccupied and disused ever since the end of the war, as I believe all these airfields have?

Mr. Ward

Harrington is being held in reserve as a possible explosives store.