HC Deb 17 December 1919 vol 123 cc427-8W
Sir H. NIELD

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state under what statutory enactment, Regulation, or other authority possession was taken by the Department of the land at Manston Park, near Margate, belonging to Mr. J. Proctor; for what purpose is possession still retained and whether it is proposed to occupy it permanently; if so, what is the reason for delaying negotiations for purchase; in the. event of the Department proposing to give up possession, will he state when this is likely to take place, and whether the premises will be put into the condition they were at the time when the Department took possession before restoration to the owner; and what proposals has he to make for compensating the owner for the occupation of the premises before and since the Armistice, or is it the desire of the Department that the occupier should be compelled to proceed with his claim before the War Losses Commission?

Mr. CHURCHILL

The answer to the first question is that this land was taken under the Defence of the Realm Regulations; to the second, that this is one of the stations which it is proposed shall be permanently retained for the use of the Royal Air Force; to the third, that the decision to retain this aerodrome has only recently been made and is subject to Treasury sanction, for which application will be made. In view of the above, the fourth question does not arise. The answer to the fifth and sixth questions is that the Air Ministry is not satisfied that the owner has sustained any loss, but that matter can be discussed in the course of the negotiations which mast take place when the Ministry is in a position to take final action.