§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what price per acre Her Majesty's Government have paid, or are paying, for land bought for the new airfield in the Falkland Islands; what was the total cost of this land; and how the price per acre compares with that of similar land recently sold to non-governmental buyers;
(2) when he hopes to sign the contract with the Falkland Islands Company for land in the Falklands for the airfield; and how the price will be arrived at;
(3) what is the compensation to be paid for severance of Falkland Islands Company land for the airport;
(4) what assessment he has made of the damage sustained to Falkland Islands Company property and earnings as a result of the construction of the airport.
§ Mr. Stanley[pursuant to his answer, 20 March 1984, c. 384]: On the price of the land I cannot add to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member on 9 December 1983, at column 270. An assessment of any damage sustained by reason of severance of the land acquired will form part of the price to be paid for the land in question. On the timing of the signing of the contract, I cannot add to the answer given to the hon. Member by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement on 22 December 1983, at column 432.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total acreage required for the building of the Falklands airport.
§ Mr. Stanley[pursuant to his answer, 20 March 1984, c. 384]: Some 8,300 acres, subject to final survey.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what existing facilities on the airport site in the Falkland Islands were taken into account in calculating the cost of land.
§ Mr. Stanley[pursuant to his answer, 20 March 1984, c. 384]: None.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ask the Falkland Islands Company if it will donate land for the airport.
§ Mr. Stanley[pursuant to his answer, 20 March 1984, c. 384]: The Falklands Islands Company has made it clear that it does not wish to donate the whole of the land required.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration Her Majesty's Government gave to using compulsory purchase powers in relation to [and for Falklands airport.
§ Mr. Stanley[pursuant to his answer, 20 March 1984, c. 384]: The Faklands Islands Government possess these powers and their use has been considered.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what independent guidance was taken by Her Majesty's Government before agreeing the price of land purchased in relation to Falklands airport.
§ Mr. Stanley[pursuant to his answer, 20 March 1984, c. 384]: The usual professional advice was made available to Her Majesty's Government from within the Government service.
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§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence how Her Majesty's Government have calculated the value of similar land to that on which the Falkland Islands airport is constructed.
§ Mr. Stanley[pursuant to his answer, 20 March 1984, c. 384]: The Ministry of Defence has not made any other purchases of such land in recent years.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what donations have been made by Chartres to Her Majesty's Government for land for an artillery range in the Falklands.
§ Mr. Stanley[pursuant to his answer, 20 March 1984, c. 384]: No land donations have been made by the Chartres Sheep Farming Company Ltd. to Her Majesty's Government. The company has, however, made available an area of its land for military training at a nominal annual charge. It is not considered that the use of the area for military training materially affects its value for sheep grazing.
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§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent, when considering the purchase of land for the Falkland Islands airport, he gave consideration to the principle that the price should reflect the price which would have been paid on an assessment of compensation in arbitration on compulsory purchase; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Stanley[pursuant to his answer, 20 March 1984, c. 384]: This is one of the factors taken into consideration.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence how, when the price of land in the Falkland Islands is being calculated, its productivity is measured; and in particular how the number of sheep that it could sustain is assessed.
§ Mr. Stanley[pursuant to his answer, 20 March 1984, c. 384]: Land transactions in the Falklands generally are not matters for my right hon. Friend.