AIR STATIONS (RE-OCCUPATION). (Hansard, 3 December 1925)

§ Sir S. HOARE

As regards the first part of the question, none of the air-station properties which have been or, according to present proposals, are to be reoccupied by the Air Ministry, were previously owned in whole or in part by the State and disposed of after the War. The following stations which were occupied during the War under compulsory powers and released are being reoccupied:—Bicester, Boscombe Down, Filton, Castle Bromwich, Hendon, Hucknall, Suttons Farm, Upper Heyford, Waddington, Wittering. Three other stations, North Weald Bassett, Turn-house, and West Drayton, which had also been occupied, were partly purchased by the Liquidation Department, from whom the Air Ministry has since repurchased the portions retained. As regards the second part of the question, buildings 2539W which existed at the stations referred to were sold by the Liquidation Department, in many cases for removal and to a number of separate purchasers, and in other cases were disposed of to the owners of the land in part settlement of their claims for reinstatement; and to ascertain the total sum realised would involve the investigation of a large number of records and accounts extending over a considerable period. I cannot see that any public purpose would be served by an investigation involving so much labour and resulting in a figure which is in no way comparable with the cost of reacquisition. The total estimated cost of acquisition of the lands and reacquisition of buildings, where existent, is £243,000. This total includes nothing for the purchase of Hendon, which has formed the subject of complicated negotiations involving war debts; these negotiations are not yet complete.