§ Sir R. Glynasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether any negotiations for the purchase of land between Wallingford and Benson, in the neighbourhood of Ashbury and Lambourne, in the county of Berkshire, for air stations or bomb-practice areas are in either contemplation or agreed upon?
§ Sir V. WarrenderI have been asked to reply. Negotiations are proceeding for the acquisition of about 460 acres of land for a Royal Air Force aerodrome in the neighbourhood of Benson. No other purchase is being considered near the places mentioned.
§ Mr. T. Williamsasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many separate sites have been purchased for new aerodromes and aeroplane factories during the past two years; how many of the sites were agricultural; the area of each; and the price paid for the land in each case?
§ Sir V. WarrenderI lave been asked to reply. The number of separate sites for new aerodromes and aeroplane factories of which the purchase has been completed during the past two years is 25. In the great majority of cases the land can be regarded as agricultural but it is not practicable to differentiate precisely in each case between agricultural and nonagricultural areas. The acreage of the aerodrome sites and the total cost of each are given in the subjoined table. The 1841W cost includes in a number of cases compensation for severance for disturbance, loss of crops, etc., purchase of houses
Aerodrome. Acreage. Cost. Remarks. £ Harwell 220 11,650 — Cranfield 413 17,500 Purchase price includes clearance rights over 23 acres. Feltwell 383 19,500 — Marham 499 8,650 — Stradishall 375 7,600 Purchase price includes clearance rights over 82 acres. Church Fenton 255 26,500 Purchase price includes clearance rights over 78 acres. Thorney Island 1,450 78,500 Purchase price covers an additional area of 1,338 acres of saltings. Odiham 216 9,000 — Montrose 308 18,600 — Debden 245 14,900 Purchase price includes clearance rights over 76 acres. Upwood 570 23,500 — Wyton 409 16,200 — Scampton 410 25,000 — Hemswell 443 25,500 — Dishforth 455 26,000 — Driffield 407 15,230 — Leconfield 498 23,750 — Ternhill 406 32,900 Purchase price includes clearance rights over 49 acres. Hullavington 479 14,300 Purchase price includes clearance rights over 2 acres. West Freugh and Luce Bay 2,700 19,400 — Penrhos and Hell's Mouth 609 21,500 — Manby 275 8,800 — Theddlethorpe 165 7,250 — Welbourne 108 3,600 —
Factory Site. Site. Acreage. Cost. Remarks. £ Birmingham … … 17½ 10,500 —