asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement with regard to the peacetime use of a bombing range at Howden, East Yorkshire; whether he is aware that the land in question is good agricultural land; and whether he has consulted the Minister of Agriculture on the matter.

The range at Howden was used for practice bombing from 1942 till 1945. Almost all of it has been farmed with little interruption since 1944. I regret that I cannot now say whether this range will be required in future, but I am, of course, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, and with my other right hon Friends who are concerned.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that before the final decision is made he will have further consultations with his colleagues?

Yes, Sir, certainly. Perhaps I might add, to remove misapprehensions in the locality, that were this to be retained as a range we should only use small smoke puff bombs which would do no damage and would not substantially interfere with farming.