Dispute over silence on RAF airfield pledge

The UK Government has been accused of going back on a commitment to keep 15 military airfields that are earmarked for closure in use for civil aviation.

The airfields – including one near Arbroath – are due to be sold off, mostly for housing, over the next six years as part of Ministry of Defence cost- cutting.

MPS and peers on the all- party general aviation group believe they are an important national asset.

They say that defence minister Tobias Ellwood had agreed to “look again” at the aerodrome sell- offs with the possibility of keeping them going for civil aviation purposes.

But all- party group chairman, Conservative MP Grant Shapps, said there were “significant disparities” between what Mr Ellwood had said and his subsequent follow- up letter.

He said: “Our meeting with the defence minister was very worthwhile and extracted some helpful commitments, including supporting continued aviation use at the 15 military aerodromes being disposed of, where possible.”

But he said the group’s members were “very concerned to see no mention of these commitments in the minister’s follow- up letter”.

Mr Shapps added: “As we celebrate 100 years of the Royal Air Force, which has inspired generations of young people, we have written back to the minister to ask specifically what the Ministry of Defence is doing to support general aviation.

“We look forward to the minister’s reply.”