§ 50. Mr. Snowasked the Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been drawn to existing quarters, food and other amenities at the Royal Air Force Station, Yatesbury, Wiltshire; what action he will take to improve them; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Mr. Airey Neave)The Radio School at Yatesbury is contracting and we intend to transfer its task to a station with permanent buildings, possibly after combining it with another school, as soon as it has run down to the size we plan. Yatesbury will then close. Although conditions meanwhile are not as good as we should like, we are carrying out essential maintenance and are also putting in certain new cooking equipment. On the whole, facilities for sport and recreation are good.
§ Mr. SnowIn the meantime, there can be no excuse for bad conditions for men attending classes there. Will the hon. Gentleman look into the question of bad food, bad living conditions and compulsory sports parades when there is not sufficient equipment for the men to indulge in the sports concerned? Will he ensure that the permanent staff does not always have the best of it?
§ Mr. NeaveWe are certainly doing our best to improve the recreational facilities, and, of course, the cooking as well.