§ 58. Mr. Jannerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether, after the helicopter service between London and Birmingham used for visitors during the period of the British Industries Fair has been successfully tested, he will consider extending this type of service to link up London with Leicester and other important centres of business in the Midlands and the north.
§ Mr. BeswickThe helicopter service between the outskirts of London and Castle Bromwich, which is being operated by a private company under an associate agreement with British European Airways Corporation, is experimental and will be operated over a carefully selected route solely in connection with the British Industries Fair. Although an experimental service will be started by British European Airways Corporation in 376 June between Cardiff and Liverpool, the development of the helicopter is not yet sufficiently advanced for it to be considered as a normal means of providing regular transport services between city centres.
§ Mr. JannerIs my hon. Friend aware that Leicester, which is one of the most attractive cities in the Midlands—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—if not the most attractive—has no effective air service at all and that there is no available aerodrome there? Will he do something with regard to the helicopter service to see that Leicester receives immediate and priority attention?
§ Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas MooreWould the hon. Gentleman extend this feeder service to Prestwick, so as to enable it to play its part?
§ Mr. EdenBefore heeding all these blandishments, will the hon. Gentleman make these services available to Malaya, where they are urgently needed?