§ Mr. Wilkinsonasked the Minister of State for Defence to what extent his Department's proposal to transfer the artillery range from Shoeburyness to Royal Air Force, Pembrey, is dependent upon a Government decision to develop Foulness as a third London airport; and if he will list the other reasons for the proposed transfer.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourAs was made clear to the Roskill Commission and at the public inquiry in Wales last year into the Ministry of Defence's proposals for Pembrey, the growth of air traffic over South-Eastern England is likely in any event to cause the closure of the Shoeburyness Range in due course. On that basis, a decision to build a third London Airport at Foulness would merely advance the date of that closure.