CIVIL AVIATION. (Hansard, 27 April 1922)

HC Deb 27 April 1922 vol 153 cc707-9 707

2. Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONE
asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can make a statement in regard to the appointment of a Controller-General for civil aviation?

The SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Captain Guest)
When introducing the Air Estimates on the 21st March, I said that it was my intention to re-organise the Department of Civil Aviation as a directorate. I am afraid I am not yet in a position to announce the name of the new Director.

Mr. MALONE
Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware of the strong feeling, both in the country and in the 708 House, that enough is not being done for civil aviation; and can he say whether a day will be given for the discussion of this important matter?

Captain GUEST
That rests in the hands of the House.

§ Commander BELLAIRS
When the proposed re-organisation takes place, will care be taken that civil aviation is not made subordinate to the military aviation side?

Captain GUEST
Most certainly.

§ Mr. RAPER
When the remaining Votes are taken, shall we be allowed a wide discussion upon them?

Mr. MALONE
Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that when the Air Estimates were discussed before, civil aviation was ruled out, and all discussion was precluded?

Captain GUEST
That was done intentionally, so that certain Votes might still be left for discussion.

3. Mr. MALONE
asked the Secretary of State for Air the composition of the Advisory Committee on Civil Aviation; what interests each member represents; whether the Committee has yet met; and whether any date has been fixed for the conclusion of its Report?

Captain GUEST
With the permission of my hon. Friend, I will circulate the reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT, the particulars being rather long.

§ Following is the reply:

§ The Advisory Committee on Civil Aviation, presided over by Lord Weir, has been replaced, as announced at the Air Conference, by a permanent Civil Aviation Advisory Board, to which it is presumed my hon. Friend refers.

§ The composition of this Board and the interests represented by each member are as follow:

The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Chairman) (the Right Hon. Lord Gorell, C.B.E., M.C.).
The Director-General of Supply and Research (Air Vice-Marshal Sir W. G. H. Salmond, K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O.).
The Director of Civil Aviation.

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§ Representatives of—

General Post Office (Brigadier-General F. H. Williamson, C.B.E.).
Accident Offices Association (Mr. J. C. McBride).
Air League of the British Empire (Major-General Sir W. Sefton Brancker, K.C.B., A.F.C.).
Association of British Chambers of Commerce (Mr. Stanley Machin, J. P.).
Federation of British Industries (Mr. H. James Yates).
Institute of Transport (Sir Wm. Joynson-Hicks, Bart., M.P.).
Lloyds (Lieut.-Colonel Sir Frederick Hall, K.B.E., D.S.O., M.P.).
Royal Aero Club (Brigadier-General Sir Capel Holden, K.C.B., F.R.S.).
Royal Aeronautical Society (Lieut. -Colonel Mervyn O'Gorman, C.B.).
Society of British Aircraft Constructors, Limited (Sir Henry White-Smith, C.B.E.).
Mr. F. G. L. Bertram, C.B.E. (Secretary).

§ Four meetings of the Board and three meetings of its Technical Committee have so far been held. The Board is a continuing one, and will report from time to time on questions remitted to it for consideration. No dates for the rendering of the reports have been fixed.