asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will give an assurance that he will not acquire or use the six miles stretch of land officially described as the Millom Range, Cumberland, or any part thereof, without a public inquiry.

Our proposed use of land at Millom is being considered by the Services Land Requirements Committee. If, after investigation, there appear to be substantial objections outstanding, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Town and Country Planning will arrange an inquiry. The length of foreshore involved in our proposals is one and a half miles, to which access would be permitted whenever the range was not in use.

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman say when he thinks this proposal will come before the committee, because the local planning authorities are hampered until they have knowledge; and does he realise how supremely valuable this piece of coast is, and how much concerned the local authorities and the amenity societies are?

Yes, Sir. I quite appreciate the importance mentioned in the second part of the supplementary question. As regards the first part, the committee are now considering these aspects of the problem.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that in the past, and presumably normally, this committee take ten months to report on these matters; and can he do anything to speed it up?

I will look into that.