HL Deb 19 December 1974 vol 355 cc1273-4

11.24 a.m.

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consult the relevant local authorities before implementing the closures of Service stations foreshadowed in the recent Statement on Defence.

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I regret that it is not the usual practice to consult individual local authorities. The normal procedure is for the Ministry of Defence to consult other Government Departments concerned with regional policies, who will have regard to local implications.

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his Answer, which I find most unhelpful. I had hoped that the Government might be persuaded to look at the question of what happens to the buildings when they are vacated. Can my noble friend perhaps give me an assurance that he will look at how the buildings are used on stations which become defunct, to ensure that they are continued in use and that the taxpayers' money is not wasted? And will he look specifically at the position of Upwood aerodrome in Cambridgeshire, which has recently been closed, where some of the houses are being used and the rest of the property is standing empty? It is a crying shame that in our desperate housing shortage houses should stand empty at this time. Is it not possible for the Government to consider using some of the other buildings on our stations as open prisons or detention centres for juvenile offenders?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, the first point made by my noble friend is, I think, absolutely correct, that proper use should be made quickly of parts of stations or whole stations which are no longer required. With regard to the second part of her question, concerning the present situation at Upwood, I will endeavour to provide her with a full answer.

Lord STRATHCONA and MOUNT ROYAL

My Lords, can the noble Lord give some indication as to how long it takes from the time when a particular service decides to give up an individual station to a final decision, in some cases a sale on the open market?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I cannot answer offhand but I will make an inquiry, and will let the noble Lord know, about two blocks of surplus married quarters which have recently been released and which have been offered to local authorities at Rhyl and Barnard Castle. It might be an interesting exercise to find out how long this has taken. This I will do.