HC Deb 10 December 1952 vol 509 cc64-6W
84. Mr. G. Brown

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many airfields have grass drying machines installed; who operates them; who is responsible for the management and cultivation of the land; and what acreage of grass is affected by these arrangements.

Mr. Ward

Grass dryers are installed on 23 Royal Air Force airfields. They are operated by private contractors or by farmers. The Air Ministry is responsible for the management and maintenance of the land at these airfields. This includes draining, harrowing, rolling and seeding. The contractor is responsible for obtaining and applying artificial fertilisers to make good the loss caused by the removal of the grass. The area affected is about 4,500 acres.

85. Mr. G. Brown

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air on how many airfields are arrangements made for letting the grass cutting rights; what arrangements are made for the management and cultivation of the land; and what acreage of grass is affected by these arrangements.

Mr. Ward

There are 52 Royal Air Force airfields without dryers at which grass drying contracts are let. The acreage affected is 10,500. The arrangements for the management and cultivation of the land are the same as at airfields at which dryers are installed.

86. Mr. G. Brown

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the yield and protein content and total quantity of dried grass collected from airfields; where the dryers are installed on the airfield; and where the collecting rights are let.

Mr. Ward

The annual yield is about one ton an acre and the protein content about 16.9 per cent. irrespective of whether the dryers are installed on the airfield or not. 15,000 tons of dried grass meal was collected from Royal Air Force airfields this year and 4,500 tons of this was collected from airfields on which dryers are installed.

87. Mr. E. L. Mallalieu

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air on what proportion of the acreage of aerodromes under the control of the Air Ministry grass is cut for drying; and if the application of fertiliser to the land is allowed to stimulate fresh growth

Mr. Ward

The answer to the first part of the Question is 9 per cent., but this represents no less than 65 per cent, of the area under grass on aerodromes under the control of the Air Ministry which is regarded as suitable for grass drying. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative.