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.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many officers and men of the R.A.F. who were reported as missing or prisoners of war, and are believed to have been in Germany or Poland remain untraced; and what steps are now being taken to search for them.

About 9,000 members of the R.A.F. who were reported missing in Europe remain untraced. Most of these were lost over North-West Europe, including Germany and Poland, but it is not possible to say how many were lost in each country. It is estimated that a further 12,000 were lost over the sea, and it is unlikely that positive evidence of their fate will now be discovered. R.A.F. Missing Research Units are still at work in Germany and other European countries, but to my regret permission to go into Poland has not yet been obtained. In the last six months these units have accounted for nearly 2,000 officers and men whose deaths could previously only be presumed; altogether, about 18,000 have now been traced. All members of the R.A.F. who were posted as prisoners of war have been traced, with two exceptions.

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman say what steps he is taking to persuade the Polish Government to allow research units to enter Poland?

I should prefer that question to be put down on the Order Paper.

Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that, towards the conclusion of the war we made very full reciprocal agreements with all our Allies to help them to trace their missing, in return for which they would help us to trace our missing? I think the House would feel it indefensible that an Ally should refuse us this very reasonable concession.

Is Poland the only country which refuses to allow these units to penetrate into its territory?

Yes, Sir.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that there is a Norwegian War Graves Commission working in Poland; and, therefore, ought there to be any insuperable objection to one going from our country?

The objection is not coming from this end.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why the sailing of a party of pilot cadets for South Africa on s.s. "Stirling Castle" on 4th December was cancelled on 28th November, after the cadets had drawn their tropical kit, etc., on 25th November.

My Department received a report from the R.A.F. authorities in Southern Rhodesia on 26th November proposing a re-arrangement of the R.A.F. Training Schools there. In order to carry out this re-arrangement, the sailing of the next contingent of cadets had to be postponed.

Does the Minister agree that, in order to encourage young officers instead of disappointing them, it would have been as well to have told them the reason why their departure was delayed?

I was not aware that they had not been told.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when the airfield at Bolt Head, South Devon, will he made available for agricultural use.

This airfield was derequisitioned 18 months ago, since when the County Agricultural Executive Committee have been restoring the land for farming. Complete restoration is, however, proving more difficult than was expected, and I am therefore, consulting my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture on what further work should be put in hand.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the case of this rich agricultural land, 300 acres in extent, has been like a shuttlecock flying between his Ministry, the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Agriculture for the last 18 months; that buildings are still on the aerodrome; that the ditches are still open; and, particularly, that some wire mesh tracking, which was premised to local owner-occupiers to replace their fences, has been disposed of elsewhere; and does he realise that if this sort of thing goes on everywhere the country will starve?

I am not aware that it is going on everywhere. As regards this particular area being a shuttlecock between various Departments, I hope that as a result of my consultations that situation will end.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that the work of Nos. 327 and 1327, Kilmarnock and District Squadrons, Air Training Corps, is being seriously handicapped by lack of heating facilities in their headquarters; and will he take steps to provide the necessary radiators from Air Ministry stores.

My Department have no stocks of the special type of radiator which the Kilmarnock Committee have asked for, but consideration is being given to what alternative heating arrangements can best be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why candidates for trainee assistant photographer are asked their political views.

I am not aware that candidates are asked for their political views.

If I send the Minister a letter which I have just received, which gives a rather different view, will he look into it?

Yes, Sir.