§ Lord APSLEYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the date of the purchase of Filton Aerodrome by the Ministry and the price paid, including the cost of erecting hangars, buildings, and other necessary fitments; the date of its sale and the price paid by the purchasers; and the amount of the rent now paid by the Ministry for the use of part of the aerodrome?
§ Sir P. SASSOONFilton Aerodrome was not purchased by the Air Ministry. The site was occupied during the War under compulsory powers, and was subsequently purchased by the Disposal and Liquidation Commission in order to facilitate disposal of the buildings which had been erected at a cost of about £250,000. Full particulars of these transactions are not available in the Air Ministry, but I understand that the Commission effected the sale of the land and War-time buildings to the Bristol Aeroplane Company early in 1922 for a sum of about £60,000. The Air Ministry has rented the major portion of the buildings and the use of the aerodrome for an annual rental of £2,500.