HC Deb 17 July 1963 vol 681 c520
40. Mr. Hayman

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a statement about the future of St. Eval Airfield in Cornwall.

Mr. H. Fraser

St. Eval is being retained as a reserve airfield. The married quarters are occupied by the families of men serving at Royal Air Force, St. Mawgan.

Mr. Hayman

Asa reserve airfield, will St. Eval now be available to, say, the Admiralty or the Army for any exercises they may wish to have in Cornwall?

Mr. Fraser

Yes, Sir. It has always been available. We always make it available to any Service that wants to use it.

41. Mr. Hayman

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will sell to the Camborne School of Metalliferous Mining the site and building they desire on the perimeter of St. Eval Airfield, so that it can be used as a base for field studies, so savingit from demolition.

Mr. H. Fraser

As the hon. Member knows, my Department is discussing this proposal with the Ministry of Education, and will let him know the result.

Mr. Hayman

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I am very grateful, especially for a letter I got yesterday afternoon from the Under-Secretary of State, as it reversed the decision I got on Monday? We are very grateful for the right hon. Gentleman's intervention in this case and saving this building from demolition, as we are sure that it will be used for very good purposes.

Mr. Fraser

There has been no change of policy. It is a question that is primarily for the Ministry of Education to decide, because, as the hon. Gentleman knows, this is a direct grant school and it is for that Ministry to decide on this expenditure.

Mr. Hayman

May I point out that I was told that this building was to be demolished?

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