§ Captain Kerbyasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the construction of an aircraft factory on civil airport land 31W involves a departure from the provisions of the town map, he will now direct the West Sussex County Council to revoke planning permission in respect of the Beagle Aircraft Company's plans to develop Shoreham Airport and to manufacture aircraft there; and if he will order a public inquiry to be held forthwith, bearing in mind the fact that ample aircraft factory space can be found in non-residential areas elsewhere.
§ Mr. RipponNo. The West Sussex County Council referred two applications to my right hon. Friend in October, 1961; they were for the erection of factory and office buildings and an extension to the technical and drawing offices at Shoreham Airport. The County Council, in agreement with the Worthing Rural District Council, had decided to give approval after considering the objections which they had received as a result of Press publicity. The Council referred the matter to my right hon. Friend as a departure from the development plan was involved and he was able to consider the objections which they had received. There was a history of industrial use in buildings on the airport and he considered that as the proposal had been publicised, as objections had been made known, and as the local planning authority had taken these into account in reaching their decision he had sufficient information before him on which to authorise the Council to give permissions in accordance with their decisions.