§ 81. Mr. M. Lindsayasked the Secretary of State for Air why authority was given for Castle Bromwich airfield to be used for the Bath and West Show, in view of the fact that this is an operational airfield used by the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve; how much it will cost to put it back into service; how much of this cost is recoverable from the show; when the airfield will once more be serviceable; and what steps are being taken to ensure that those Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve members who will be short of their qualifying number of flying hours, owing to this dislocation, will still be enabled to qualify for flying bounty.
§ Mr. CrawleyPermission was given for part of Castle Bromwich airfield to be used for the Bath and West Show because it was desired to help an undertaking important to agriculture and the airfield was regarded as the most suitable site in the area in which the show was to be 229W held. The organisers, in addition to the payment of a fee for the use of the airfield, are responsible for restoring the land to the condition in which they took it over. Flying was suspended only for the period 20th May to 12th June during which time part of the training was carried out at a nearby R.A.F. airfield. I do not think any member of the R.A.F. Volunteer Reserve will be short of the qualifying number of hours flying as a consequence of the use of the airfield for this show, but perhaps the hon. Member will send me the particulars of any individual case he may have in mind.