Hansard

Wisley Airport

Volume 416: debated on Tuesday 20 January 1981

Download text
Back to top Previous debate Next debate
The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.
The Earl of Onslow

asked Her Majesty's Government:When Wisley Airport was sold to the Earl of Lytton:

  • (a) whether the Secretary of State was informed before the decision was implemented;
  • (b) whether there was any clause in the contract of sale to enable the Crown to receive a proportion of the enhanced value arising out of the possibility of the ranting of planning permission (already applied for) to convert it into a general aviation airport.

    • The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment
    (Lord Bellwin)

    (a) All land transactions work undertaken by the Property Services Agency is done under the direction of the Secretary of State for the Environment, (b) The Contract of Sale and Transfer contained no such clause.

    The Earl of Onslow

    asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, when the Secretary of State comes to consider the merits of the appeal by Jenstate against Guildford Borough Council's refusal of planning permission, he will regard the PSA as an independent authority and not part of his department for the purposes of this inquiry.

    Lord Bellwin

    The appeal by Jenstate Limited will be decided by the Secretary of State for the Environment on its planning merits.

    The Earl of Onslow

    asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether their Green Belt policy is the same as that stated by the Secretary of State in his letter to Lord Nugent of Guildford of 7th August 1980.

    The Earl of Onslow

    asked Her Majesty's Government:How many contracts to sell land or buildings have been exchanged and completed within 24 hours by the PSA in the last 4 years.

    Lord Bellwin

    The Government have no records designed to provide this information. However, I am advised by the Conveyancing Branch of the Treasury Solicitor's Department that transfers of interests in land have been arranged by way of contract and conveyance on the same day.