HC Deb 29 May 1962 vol 660 cc1142-4
20. Mr. Snow

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why he withdrew his support for loan sanction to the Lichfield Rural District Council in regard to the sale of the Royal Air Force airfield, Fradley, eight days before the sale was due to take place.

Mr. Rippon

The amount which the Lichfield Rural District Council was willing to pay, and for which my right hon. Friend was prepared to give loan sanction, was not in the region of that which the Air Ministry expected, and was in the event able to obtain.

Mr. Snow

I desire to put on record the courtesy and patience the Minister displayed in the negotiations concerning this airfield, in which I was a party, which lasted for many months. Is the Minister aware that there are certain undesirable features about this sale? Is he aware that on three occasions the district valuer, presumably at the Air Ministry's suggestion, increased his valuation? The sale is due for completion on 13th June. At no time was the Air Ministry prepared to give any indication of the price it wanted. The short notice of the change of policy by the Department seems to me at least to indicate that the public interest may not have been well served.

Mr. Rippon

I do not think that there was a change of policy. What happened was that my right hon. Friend agreed to give loan sanction up to £150,000. Unfortunately, negotiations with the Air Ministry broke down. We agreed with the council that it would be well advised not to offer a higher figure. The real justification for the Air Ministry's view is that in the event it obtained £39,000 or so more than the council offered.

21. Mr. Snow

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is satisfied that, when approving the Staffordshire County Development Plan, account was taken of the fact that the Royal Air Force, Fradley, airfield was surplus to Air Ministry requirements and therefore should be included in the proposed green belt only three miles away;and what steps he will advise the county planning authority to take in support of the Lichfield Rural District Council to prevent further spoliation of the countryside by outside and unsightly dumps such as those in the near vicinity of this airfield.

Mr. Rippon

The decision that this airfield was surplus to Air Ministry requirements had not been taken when the county development plan was approved in August, 1958. My right hon. Friend does not think that the county council needs any special advice from him about the exercise of its planning powers in this matter.

Mr. Snow

Is the hon. Member aware that this Government hold, outside the question of dockyards, airfields and other major installations, no less than 462,000 acres of land, of which 28,000 are on current sale? Is he further aware that the case of Fradley airfield has demonstrated a complete lack of co-ordination between his Ministry and the Air Ministry? If he will visit my constituency I will show him the most unseemly dumps of scrap scattered here and there, which cannot be moved because there is a shortage of staff on the local planning authority and the local authority.

Mr. Rippon

I cannot confirm or deny the figures referred to in the first part of the hon. Member's supplementary question.

Mr. Snow

They came from the Ministry of Defence.

Mr. Rippon

As to the second part of the supplementary question, I do not agree with the hon. Member's assessment of the situation.

Mr. Snow

On a point of order. In view of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

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