§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Minister of Aviation what was the average percentage increase per annum in load ton-miles assumed by him in giving his consent to the British Overseas Airways Corporation's plans for future aircraft fleet requirements; and if he will circulate in the Official Report the estimates he has made, for purposes of examining the Corporation's aircraft requirements, of the load ton-miles which will be carried for each of the Corporation's financial years up to 31st March, 1968, together with the corresponding figures of capacity ton-miles which would be provided, on the assumption that none of the VC10s on order are cancelled and none of the 707s in service are sold.
§ Mr. AmeryIt is for the Corporation to prepare and present estimates of this character and for my Department to 225W examine them and take them into account when the Corporations seek consent to orders for new aircraft.
Consent to B.O.A.C.'s proposals for its future fleet of Boeing and VC10 aircraft was given in stages after examining the Corporation's estimates of seat-mile requirements. The estimate provided at the last stage, namely February, 1961, envisaged an average growth of 13 per cent. a year between 1960–61 and 1967–68.
Disclosure of current estimates of future traffic in relation to potential capacity is a matter for the Corporation.