§ Commander Purseyasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the establishments included in H.M.S. "Ariel" and H.M.S. "Daedalus" at Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, the tasks allotted to them, whether any parts of these establishments have been civilianised or have restrictive periods, and if so, for what days and hours.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingH.M.S. "Ariel" is divided geographically between Lee-on-Solent and Seafield Park. Its major task is training but it also has test flying and experimental tasks as well as a Communications Squadron. H.M.S. "Daedalus" at Wykeham Hall, Lee-on-Solent is the Headquarters of Flag Officer Air (Home) who is responsible for administering the Home Air Command and who is also responsible for Fleet Air Arm drafting.
Admiralty civilian staff are employed on aircraft maintenance, radio instructional and clerical duties, motor transport and general duties; airfield services are operated under civil direction.
The airfield is normally open from 0800 to 1600 or dusk whichever is the earlier (on Mondays to Fridays), but aircraft may operate outside these periods on a prior permission basis. Test flying for operational deliveries from the Royal Naval Aircraft Yard Fleetlands may have to be carried out at weekends or at other times, e.g., Bank Holidays, when the airfield would otherwise be closed.
§ Commander Purseyasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty, what extra expense is being incurred in H.M.S. "Ariel" for the admiral's inspection in June, by extra painting of the parade ground, the spraying of lockers and other additional expenses.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingNone. The establishment's name has been painted on the parade ground to make it easily recognisable from the air. Ratings are encouraged to paint their lockers to make their mess decks reasonably pleasant. All other work being done at H.M.S. "Ariel" is part of normal repair and maintenance.
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§ Commander Purseyasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the reasons for and the costs of making a new road adjacent to the existing road in H.M.S. "Ariel", and building a new lounge for use by Very Important Persons seven months after the completion of the lounge at present used for this purpose.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingA gate and the associated guard room are being moved, and a new road linking the gate to the perimeter track is being provided. The total estimated costs is £7,350. This will eliminate the present need for a large amount of motor traffic through the training area where men are continually being marched to and from instruction. It will thus reduce the risk of accidents. No new V.I.P. lounge is being built: nor is one planned.
§ Commander Purseyasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the overtime expenses incurred during the last year for keeping open for the use of senior officers the airfield of H.M.S. "Ariel" outside the restricted hours of 0800 to 1600 on Mondays to Fridays.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingDuring the year ending 31st March, 1962, this airfield was open outside normal hours at an overtime cost of approximately £5,500. Part of this was due to the need for meeting the time tables of flights involving visiting V.I.Ps. and senior officers, but much of it was due to other contingencies, such as test flights, the receipt and onward despatch of aircraft delayed by bad weather or mechanical trouble, and other urgent tasks such as the conveyance of emergency hospital cases. It is inherent in the economical arrangements for normally opening this airfield at restricted hours only that from time to time the requirements of the Service will justify overtime payments.