§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AIR (LORD GORELL)My Lords, this Bill, as its title shows, is to confirm and give Parliamentary sanction to an agreement come to between the Corporation of the City of London and the President of 759 the Air Council. The Air Council are acquiring by agreement 50 acres in the Kenley Common area for an aerodrome, and by arrangement with the Corporation of the City of London they are acquiring and giving to the Corporation a contiguous estate of 60 acres. It is necessary to ask for Parliamentary sanction because the Kenley Common estate was acquired by the Corporation under the Corporation of London (Open Spaces) Act, 1878, in 1883, and they cannot voluntarily cede it without Parliamentary sanction. All the rights of the public have in this case been fully safeguarded. Under the Bill if the estate of 50 acres is no longer required as a military aerodrome it will go back to the Corporation of the City of London as well as the 60 acres mentioned in the Bill. Under the Second Schedule the public will have the right still to use the common on public holidays, and the Air Council further undertake not to place any buildings upon it. At this late hour I do not think it is necessary for me to go further into detail.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Lord Gorell.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.