Christmas Common, Watlington (Use)

HC Deb 09 February 1955 vol 536 cc1876-7

16. Mr. Hay

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement on the use which is proposed to be made of his Department's property at Christmas Common, near Watlington, Oxford.

Mr. Ward

The hon. and gallant Member will by now have received the letter I wrote to him on 7th February about this case.

Mr. Hay

Is my hon. Friend aware that the contents of that letter, which have not so far been made public, indicate that it is not intended to proceed with the ambitious scheme which was first promulgated? Will he bear in mind that my constituents and many others are very grateful for this change?

Mr. Ward

I apologise to the House. I am afraid that I read the wrong reply.

Mr. Wyatt

No wonder there are no aircraft.

Mr. Ward

The correct answer is:

We have now been able to modify our requirements so that only an unattended radio station consisting of a steel mast and a small building will be needed at Christmas Common.