§ Mr. E. Walkdenasked the Secretary of State for Air how many farmers are being dispossessed of their land to construct London's civil airport at Staines, Middlesex; how many acres are being taken out of cultivation by this development scheme; and whether he is satisfied of the necessity to deprive the nation of the yield from the growing crops for the current year's harvest.
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§ Sir A. SinclairThe airfield to which my hon. Friend refers is being constructed for the purpose of meeting an urgent war requirement of the Royal Air Force. The detailed information asked for is as follows. Fifteen farmers are affected, of whom five will be able to retain part of their land. About 1,100 acres of agricultural land are involved. Crops are expected to be harvested from over 600 acres of this area, and from an additional 180 acres it should be possible to salvage the immature crops for agricultural purposes. It would not have been possible to save tile crops further without incurring unacceptable delay.