§ Mr. Rentonasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air which aerodromes in Huntingdonshire are to be maintained permanently by the R.A.F.; and how long it will be before all the other aerodromes in that county are derequisitioned.
§ Mr. StracheyI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave on 7th November to similar questions by the hon. Members for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) and for Maidstone (Mr. Bossom). We cannot yet say when the future of the Huntingdonshire airfields will be decided.
§ Dr. Littleasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) whether the aerodrome at Greencastle, County Down, is one of those in Northern Ireland being now offered for immediate return to farming; and whether he will give the farmers who were dispossessed, the first option on this property;
(2) whether he will give the names of the aerodromes in Northern Ireland which are being offered presently and to the end of this year for return to farming, in order that the previous owners may be prepared to get back the land which was owned by them before being taken over by his Ministry.
§ Mr. StracheyThe six airfields for which we are now making arrangements are: Greencastle, Cluntoe, Mullaghmore, Long Kesh, Nutts Corner, and Maghaberry. In addition, Bally-halbert and Kirkistown will be available at the end of the year. The Air Ministry owns all these airfields; I do not think they will be on sale at present. The arrangements for farming adopted there for the time being are pri-1488W marily a matter for the Government of Northern Ireland, and the land at each place will be dealt with in consultation with them.