Mr. Lucasasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he anticipates flying will cease at Bovingdon, Croydon and Stansted, in conformity with the proposals contained in the Government's White Paper on London's Airports, Command Paper No. 8902; and when he expects Croydon to be closed and made available for sale.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterBovingdon and Stansted will remain in military flying use when civil flying ceases. The date of the withdrawal of civil flying from Bovingdon is being discussed with the Air Ministry and the operators concerned and depends primarily on the provision of facilities elsewhere for those operators at present based there. The withdrawal from Stansted is likely to be a gradual process as accommodation becomes available elsewhere for the substantial number of aircraft based there, and I cannot yet forecast when it will be completed. I expect Croydon to be closed and to become available for sale about 1959.