asked the Secretary of State for Air what steps are being taken to prevent damage to public property on Silverstone aerodrome and the wrongful abstraction from that aerodrome of electric and other fittings, kitchen equipment, baths, sinks, etc.; and if he will give an estimate of the damage done and value of the articles improperly taken since the R.A.F. ceased to occupy the aerodrome.

The aerodrome at Silverstone will not in future be required by the R.A.F. All movable R.A.F. equipment was taken away, all R.A.F. personnel were withdrawn, and the aerodrome was closed on 17th March last. Since then, trespassers have done damage to the value of about £250, and about £120 worth of equipment has been stolen. We are now waiting for other Government Departments to take up this accommodation. In the meantime I will take what steps I can to prevent further depredations of the kind to which the hon. and learned Member has been good enough to draw my attention.

When the right hon. Gentleman says that the aerodrome has been closed, is he aware that not a single door of any of the numerous huts on that aerodrome is locked at all; that anyone can obtain access from the numerous roads; and that there is no obstruction to prevent people going in? Is he also aware that it would be of immense value to the local authority for housing? Would he consider disposing of it?

Because there was likely to be delay in taking up the accommodation we did remove nearly £4,000 worth of domestic equipment which would not normally have been removed before the camp was closed. I will see what can be done now. The camp was originally laid open to the public by storm damage—that is my information— and then trespassers entered and did the further damage to which I referred.

But is the right hon. Gentleman aware that while the storm did some damage to some of the huts the majority are undamaged, with the exception that all the doors are open, and that there is still a large quantity of kitchen equipment of great value on the premises?

I am going to do everything I can. I ought also to say to the hon. and learned Gentleman—I think he knows it already—that the R.A.F. are very short of manpower, and that to put guards on these places which have been closed is a matter of the greatest difficulty. But we shall do everything possible.

Are we to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that since March last, when the camp was closed, no R.A.F. guard as a maintenance unit was retained there?

To my regret there have not been guards.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the very important domestic equipment he says has been taken away will be made available for houses?

That is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply and the other competent authorities to decide.

Is it not the duty of the right hon. Gentleman to keep a small party upon such premises until they are transferred effectively into other hands?

If we had sufficient manpower, no doubt we should desire to do so. In this particular case it was thought that the accommodation would be very quickly taken up, but difficulty arose because it was found that the accommodation is on land that belongs to the Forestry Commission. There has not been very long delay due to that. I hope to settle it very quickly.