§ 6. Mr. Simon CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future use by his Department of Wroughton airfield.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement (Mr. Kenneth Carlisle)The greater part of Wroughton airfield is owned by the Department of the Environment and occupied by the Science museum. On the Ministry of Defence-owned land around the perimeter, various support activities are undertaken by all three services and we have no present plans to change them.
§ Mr. CoombsIs my hon. Friend aware that a recent survey conducted by Swindon chamber of industry and 157 commerce showed widespread support for the development of a civilian air facility somewhere in the area? Will he bear that in mind when, with the Secretary of State for the Environment, he considers the future of Wroughton?
§ Mr. CarlisleAs I said, at present we have no plans to move any of our activities from the land that we still own around the perimeter at Wroughton. My hon. Friend has always argued that if we should ever leave, we should fully consult local interests about the best use of the land and we would, of course, do that.