§ 30. Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Defence what requests he has received in the past three years from Portsmouth City Council for the release of Service land for housing, industrial, commercial and other purposes; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. ReynoldsDuring past years there have been frequent contacts with the 409 Portsmouth City Council about the release of Service land, with the result that a considerable acreage has already been sold or offered for sale.
§ Mr. JuddIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is some evidence that industrialists have been turned away from the city because of a shortage of land there? Can my right hon. Friend assure us that he will look to the economic and social needs of the community as a whole, and not primarily to the convenience of the Services in this matter?
§ Mr. ReynoldsI shall look primarily to the efficiency of our forces in this matter, but about 250 acres have been sold to the city corporation during the last three years, and 290 acres are at present on offer.