§ Mr. Spenceasked the Secretary of State for defence if he will give the date on which he or his agents first contacted the Yorkshire water authority in connection with his proposed sale of 132 empty surplus RAF houses at Dishforth, North Yorkshire; on what dates there was subsequent correspondence with the authority; with what result; if he will publish the correspondence in the Official Report; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PattieDiscussions with the Yorkshire water authority (YWA) on the possibility of its adopting the MOD-owned sewage treatment works at RAF Dishforth first started in July 1974 when it became apparent that part of the station might become surplus to requirements. There has been considerable correspondence and discussion 89W since that date with the exception of two periods in 1976–78 and 1980 when YWA indicated that it did not wish to pursue the matter. It is not our practice to publish such correspondence.
Further approaches were made to the YWA in October 1980 and a meeting was held in February 1981 to discuss all the options for public supplies of water and sewerage services to the surplus married quarters. Formal proposals from the YWA arising out of the discussions at this meeting are now awaited.