asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty for what reason stone-bottoming for runways for aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm has been abandoned in Scotland, and stabilised earth and bitumen emulsion substituted; and what are the respective costs per square yard of these two processes?

It is not the Admiralty practice to make public any details of tender and contract prices but the hon. Member is incorrect in assuming that we are abandoning the use of stone-bottoming for runways, since this method is proving more economical at present.