§ 37. Mr. Denzil Freethasked the Minister of Defence why the Service Departments will retain on 1st July, 1963, in the county of Hampshire 2,502 acres, and in the county of Berkshire 3,279 acres, more than were held on 1st July, 1939.
§ The Minister of Defence (Mr. Harold Watkinson)This additional land is needed for airfields and for naval support and training facilities.
§ Mr. FreethDoes not my right hon. Friend realise the degree to which counties near London are being put under pressure to accept London overspill and that this will mean the taking of good farming land unless the Services are willing to co-operate more with the civil authorities?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI quite see the difficulty here. The Services would be very glad to give up land if they could reasonably do so. The main reasons for this increase are the Greenham Common and Welford Airfields and the Royal Naval Air Station at Lee-on-Solent.