HC Deb 15 October 1969 vol 788 cc383-4
14. Sir D. Renton

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are his contingency plans with regard to the operational aircraft stations at Royal Air Force, Wyton, and United States Air Force, Alconbury, and with regard to the Royal Aeronautical Establishment, Thurleigh, in the event of Thurleigh being chosen to be the Third London Airport.

The Minister of Defence for Administration (Mr. Roy Hattersley)

It is not the practice to disclose contingency plans for the movement of operational flying tasks. I can however assure the right hon. and learned Gentleman that if Thurleigh were chosen and if it became necessary to move tasks from the R.A.F. stations at Wyton and Alconbury, they would go to other stations that are expected to be available at the time.

The Royal Aeronautical Establishment at Thurleigh is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology.

Sir D. Renton

But would it not cost millions of pounds and cause great inconvenience to move these three important establishments, and would it not be better to say here and now to the Roskill Commission that because of the expense and inconvenience it would do much better to drop the proposal that Thurleigh should be the third London airport?

Mr. Hattersley

No, Sir. The object of the Commission is to look objectively at and report to the Government on the advantages and disadvantages of a number of sites. That makes it quite impossible for any Government Department or the Government as a whole to comment on the advantages or disadvantages of one or the other, even if they subscribe to the views the right hon. and learned Gentleman has stated, which we do not necessarily do.