HC Deb 21 November 1956 vol 560 c88W
Sir D. McCallum

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will make a statement about the Government's policy for the use of the airfield at Machrihanish.

Mr. Wingfield Digby

N.A.T.O. is interested in the use of Machrihanish airfield. Should it be decided that the airfield can be suitably adapted and the necessary planning clearances obtained, it would be some two years at least before any work involving the employment of local labour could be started. No Service personnel would be likely to be drafted to the airfield, at least until it has been adapted to N.A.T.O. standards, which might take a further two to three years, and then probably only during N.A.T.O. naval exercises.