asked the Secretary of State for Air on what date his Department decided to relinquish 17½ acres of land taken over from the Essex War Agricultural Committee in 1942 for incorporation in Boxted Aerodrome, Langham; when this relinquishment was formerly notified to the Ministry of Agriculture; and why delay took place, in view of the urgent need to get this land into cultivation for food production.

My Department decided to relinquish part of this land late in August of this year, and the other part in September, and the Ministry of Agriculture were notified in the first half of October. This land is not, however, available for cultivation, because it has buildings on it which are being transferred to other Government Departments for housing purposes. I should like to express my regret that one of the owners of the land was led to believe that it would shortly be returned to him.