asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make available for local purchase by auction or otherwise the plywood, wooden boxes, corrugated iron, asbestos roofing, canvas curtains, petrol pumps and storage tanks at Chipping Norton aerodrome.

This airfield is used as an Air Ministry storage depot, and the materials in question are not surplus. They are part of my Department's working stock of packing and building materials and equipment.

In view of the allegations that huge quantities of these things have, in fact, been destroyed, will the Secretary of State make inquiries and see that any such surpluses are made available rather than that they should be burned?

Following the question which the hon. Gentleman addressed to me three weeks ago I did initiate inquiries into the suggestions that were made, and it has been reported to me that there is no foundation for any suggestion that materials are being burnt improperly or being allowed to deteriorate.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many experienced horticultural officers are employed by his Ministry for food production and other duties for the whole of Great Britain including Air Ministry, London, Northern Ireland, Germany, the Middle East and the Far East; and what are the terms of their employment.

There are five posts of horticultural adviser, of which one is vacant at the moment, for stations in the United Kingdom and Germany. Elsewhere overseas, advice is obtained locally. The senior horticultural adviser is paid on a scale rising from £600 to £800 a year, and the others on a scale of £500 to £600 a year.

In view of the excellent production which has been obtained by reason of these officers, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the terms offered are sufficiently good to attract the right type of man?

The question of remuneration is under examination at the present moment.

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.