HC Deb 19 March 2001 vol 365 cc10-1
Caroline Flint (Don Valley)

What steps he has taken to promote the regeneration of former RAF bases for commercial aviation use. [152703]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Dr. Lewis Moonie)

A number of former RAF bases have been or are in the process of being sold for civil aviation purposes, including Finningley in my hon. Friend's constituency, Manston, Farnborough, and Kemble. Our usual policy is to market a former airfield for civil aviation purposes where that is consistent with the current planning process and Government accounting regulations.

Caroline Flint

I thank my hon. Friend for his answer. May I congratulate the Government on their decision in 1997 to stop the previous Government's proposal to turn RAF Finningley into the fourth prison in my constituency? May I also congratulate them on excluding the option of quarrying on one of the best runways in the country and disposing of it for aviation use?

Will my hon. Friend confirm that former RAF bases have made a valuable contribution to the development of regional and civil aviation? Will he also confirm that several airports, including Manchester airport before it got permission for a second runway, expressed interest in the purchase of Finningley which, with the second longest runway in the north and excellent weather conditions, is ideally suited to be a civil airport?

Dr. Moonie

I can certainly agree with my hon. Friend's final remarks. Finningley offers a superb site for an airport. I understand that Doncaster metropolitan borough council has approved a planning application to develop a major international airport site and that it has been called in for determination by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. Several airfields have been or are being sold for purposes which, we firmly believe, will continue to expand civil aviation.

Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet)

In order to meet the strategic defence review's commitment to raise gross receipts of £700 million from the sale of surplus defence land by 2002—perhaps the Minister will confirm that that is on course—is it the Government's policy to get the maximum commercial return from such spare land, subject to planning permission, or to designate particular areas of spare defence land for particular purposes?

Dr. Moonie

The position is not quite as the hon. Gentleman says. We discuss things carefully with local councils—with their elected representatives if necessary, but certainly with the planning authorities—to try to establish the best use of a site, which then goes forward for bidding in the usual tendering process. In those circumstances, we seek to get the best possible commercial return from the deal.