asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what ground it has been decided to blow up the island of Heligoland and why arrangements are not being made for the island to be returned to British or Danish control, or to be taken over by U.N.O.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the hon. Member for Westmorland (Mr. Vane) on 26th February last, and also to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. and gallant Member for West Edinburgh (Lieut.-Commander Hutchison) on 7th November, 1945.

Can my hon. Friend assure the House that nothing but the fortifications will be destroyed, and that the island will remain intact?

There will, I am afraid, be extensive damage if it is used as an air raid bombing ground.