§ 24. Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will list the airports which are owned by, and the responsibility of, the Ministry of Defence, indicating those which are no longer used and the basis on which the land within his responsibility surrounding airports is utilised, those airports no longer in active use but available for special emergency landings and take off, and those which are actively used by the Royal Air Force and other military establishments.
§ Lord LambtonThe answer to this Question is exceedingly lengthy and I am writing to my hon. Friend giving him the information which he requires. I do this with reluctance, but I do not think the House would wish me to begin my answer by naming individually over 100 airfields.
§ Mr. OsbornIs my hon. Friend satisfied that airfields have been disposed of since the end of the Second World War at a sufficiently rapid rate? Is he aware that in South Yorkshire a number of surveys have been made for a new civil airport? Would he indicate the extent to which in South Yorkshire, particularly near Sheffield, aerodromes are still being used for civil planes to land and take off?
§ Lord LambtonThe rate of disposal is constantly under review, as is the situation in South Yorkshire, the great importance of which we fully appreciate.