§ 18. Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for Air the pay and allowances of the Director-General of the B.O.A.C.
§ Captain BalfourThe chief executive member of the British Overseas Airways Corporation receives no remuneration as a member of the Corporation. I am not in a position to say what remuneration the chief executive receives in respect of his office as such, as this is a matter for the Corporation to determine under the British Overseas Airways Act, 1939.
§ Mr. StokesWho pays this salary? Is it not a fact that £7,500 per annum is paid in salary and £15,000 in expenses and is that not altogether out of proportion to the services rendered?
§ Captain BalfourThe hon. Member cannot have it both ways. Either the Corporation must have independence of management, which was intended when the House passed this Measure, or the Corporation has to be run from Whitehall. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State can dismiss the Corporation members should he wish to do so, but until he does that, he has given them autonomy of management.
§ Sir A. SouthbyMight I ask what they are paid?
§ Captain BalfourNo, Sir. My right hon. Friend does obtain general informa- 835 tion from the Corporation, so as to assure himself that there is no extravagance. However, in the same way as with the B.B.C., the Port of London Authority, and other semi-public corporations, we do not seek specific figures.
§ Mr. StokesIs my right hon. and gallant Friend of the opinion that the sums I have just mentioned are not extravagant?
§ Captain BalfourI have not said that I agree that the sums mentioned are the correct sums.
§ Mr. StokesAre they, or are they not?
27. Sir Oliver Simniondsasked the Secretary of State for Air, what information or assurance was given to Lord Knollys, before he embarked on his present tour, with regard to the intended sphere of activity of the British Overseas Airways Corporation after the war.
§ Captain BalfourNone, Sir.
§ Sir O. SimmondsThen is the policy of the Air Ministry that, the less information they give to B.O.A.C. and the House as to post-war intentions, the more successful civil aviation will be?
§ Captain BalfourNo, Sir. The Chairman of British Overseas Airways Corporation has gone on a tour dealing with corporation administration and corporation affairs. As my right hon. Friend told the House in a recent Debate, the matters referred to by my hon. Friend in his Question are now under the consideration of the Government.
22 and 23. Miss Wardasked the Secretary of State for Air (1) whether it is proposed to deliver additional aircraft this year to the British Overseas Airways Corporation;
(2) if he will give an assurance that there will be no further reduction of routes on which the British Overseas Airways Corporation operates.
§ Captain BalfourSo far from the route mileage operated by B.O.A.C. having been reduced, the total is now approximately three times what it was in 194o. The Corporation are operating under the directions of my right hon. Friend on services directly connected with the war, and additional war tasks will be allocated to them as and when the need arises. The 836 Corporation will of course be provided with the aircraft necessary to carry out such war tasks assigned to them.
Miss WardAre they to have new aircraft allocated next year; and will the same routes continue to be operated?
§ Captain BalfourIn reply to the second part of the question, I should not like, for reasons of security, to go into specific routes, but they are getting new aircraft not only next year but this year also.
§ Mr. GranvilleMay we have an assurance that B.O.A.C. are receiving efficient and good aircraft which will enable them to carry out the extended mileage?
§ Captain BalfourYes, they are receiving aircraft from our transport aircraft resources of exactly the same type as the Royal Air Force are using for their transport purposes, and these are allocated according to respective needs.
§ Captain BalfourNo, I cannot give such an assurance.