§ Viscount Lambtonasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will take 108W steps to compensate Alnwick Rural District Council for the large capital outlay made in recent years in providing necessary social services, drainage, sewerage and water, at Acklington Royal Air Force Station on the understanding given by the Royal Air Force that it intended to remain for a long period at Acklington.
§ Mr. ReynoldsI am not aware of any particular item of capital expenditure incurred by Alnwick Rural District Council on behalf of R.A.F. Acklington. Any assistance to a local authority in circumstances such as the present would have to be provided through the normal machinery of local government finance.
§ Viscount Lambtonasked the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to vacate Acklington Royal Air Force Station.
§ Mr. ReynoldsAcklington will be vacated by the Royal Air Force shortly after the move of No. 18 Squadron, about August, 1969. I am not yet in a position to say whether an alternative defence task will be found for the station.