§ 3. Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what are the limitations at Prestwick Aerodrome for handling trans-Atlantic aircraft; and what steps he is taking to remove them.
§ Mr. BeswickWhether any additional runway length is necessary to enable operators to take full advantage under all conditions of the recently increased all up weight of the Stratocruiser is at present under investigation.
§ Lord Malcolm Douglas-HamiltonIs the hon. Gentleman aware that B.O.A.C. are very dissatisfied with the conditions obtaining at Prestwick now, and that it is very important that this country should develop Prestwick as a trans-Atlantic airport since it is 160 miles nearer to New York than London? For anyone living in Manchester and the north it is very much cheaper to go to New York from Prestwick than from London.
§ Mr. BeswickIf the Corporation is dissatisfied there are proper methods for the expression of that dissatisfaction, and not by Parliamentary Questions.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Manuel.
§ Mr. R. S. HudsonOn a point of order. Since when has an occupant of the Government Front Bench been entitled to suggest to an hon. Member that he ought not to put legitimate Parliamentary Questions?
§ Mr. BeswickI am not suggesting—[HON. MEMBERS: "Yes."]—that the hon. Member put a Question that was in any way illegitimate. I am simply saying that if there are dissatisfactions felt by the Corporation they should be investigated by ways other than that of Question and answer across the Floor of the House.
§ Mr. R. S. HudsonWhy is not the Corporation entitled, when it cannot get satisfaction from a Government Department, to ask a Member to put a Question in this House? That is what we are here for.
§ Mr. SpeakerLord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton.
§ Mr. ManuelOn a point of order—
§ Mr. SpeakerIn view of the questions that were raised I thought it advisable to go on to the next Question. That is my prerogative.
§ Mr. ManuelYou did call me by name when I rose before. Sir.
§ Mr. SpeakerYes, but I now withdraw that because of the matters that were raised.