HC Deb 06 November 1968 vol 772 cc100-1W
Captain Kerby

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many airfields remain Royal Air Force property in the British Isles; how many it is planned to close by 1972; how many are in constant use and how many on care and maintenance; and how many have been closed in the past two years.

Mr. Reynolds

110 airfields in the British Isles remain R.A.F. property. This figure includes those in use by the United States Air Force and also some which lack full airfield facilities, but which are used as relief landing grounds, or for other special purposes, such as parachute dropping zones.

The closure by 1972 has been announced of the following five airfields:

  • Ballykelly.
  • Bassingbourn.
  • Bovingdon.
  • Ouston.
  • Watton.

Of the 110 airfields, 92 are in constant use; 10 are used occasionally; 3 are on a care and maintenance basis; and the remainder are in various stages of disposal.

No airfields have been closed in the past two years.