§ Mr. SHAWasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in the initial stages of the Loch Doon scheme, any representations were received by the military authorities in Scotland from private persons acquainted with the site to the effect that parts of that site were sometimes flooded to a depth of 5 ft. or 6 ft, and that parts of the road were sometimes so flooded as to stop all vehicular traffic; and whether any action was taken upon these representations?
§ Mr. FORSTERInquiry will be made, but it seems unlikely that such representations could have been made in the initial stages of the scheme, as the original scheme was situated in a part of the country where there was practically no vehicular traffic. I have answered my hon. Friend's three questions, but I think he will agree with me that detailed investigation into this matter cannot be conducted satisfactorily by question and answer in this House. The recent Debates showed a disposition on the part of the House to leave further inquiries to the Committee presided over by my hon. Friend the Member for the Cleveland Division, and I hope he will now await the Committee's Report.
§ Mr. SHAWasked whether an attempt was made in connection with the Loch Doon scheme to alter the level of Loch Bogton; and whether white glazed tiles were employed for the work, and at what cost?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe original scheme for the School of Aerial Gunnery, as put forward by the Royal Flying Corps authorities, contemplated only works in the vicinity of Loch Doon. After these works had been in progress for about six months the Royal Flying Corps authorities urged the construction of an aerodrome some three miles further down the valley at the shores of Bogton Loch. To drain this site (which formed no part of the original1392W scheme) every endeavour was made to drain the land, and by straightening out a bend in the river Doon to lower the level of the loch, thus increasing the area of the flying ground. The presence of a bed of peat on this diversion necessitated lining a portion of the channel with a network of tiles, but these were not white glazed tiles. The cost of the work will be reported in due course. It was only in deference to the strongly expressed wish of the Royal Flying Corps authorities that work was, at the late stage of progress, undertaken at Bogton, where it was known that flooding often occurred, and it was essential that every step possible should be taken to reduce that flooding to a minimum by diversion of the stream, etc.
§ Mr. SHAWasked at what stage a committee of civil engineers was asked to report upon the work at Loch Doon School of Aerial Gunnery; whether the question of the suitability of the site was expressly excluded from their terms of reference; and whether their Report will be made available to Members of Parliament or the public?
§ Mr. FORSTERIt should be explained that from the very first a civil engineer of special experience in roads and drainage was selected to be superintending engineer of the work under the Director of Fortifications and Works, and he was authorised to consult with local engineers as to the possibilities of the works, and did actually do so. The Committee of the Institute of Civil Engineers was asked to report on the work after it had been in progress for about a year. This Committee was not asked to assemble specially for the Loch Doon works, but for various large works throughout the country, of which Loch Doon was one. The question of the suitability of site was excluded from their terms of reference, in so far as this affected aviation, the reasons for the selection having been decided not by the Works Department but by the Royal Flying Corps authorities. I will consider the question of making copies of their Report available for Members.