§ 1. Mr. LEWISasked the Postmaster-General the reasons why the contract for the carriage of air mails to Scandinavia was granted to British Airways without British Continental Airways being invited to tender?
§ Major TRYONThe contract referred to was granted to British Airways, Limited, as they were considered to be the most suitable company to undertake this service to Scandinavia.
§ Sir PERCY HARRISOn what basis is suitability judged? Is there any open tender, or is it by personal judgment?
§ Major TRYONThe object was to give the work to the firm which we, and the committee representing nine Government Departments, considered to be the most suitable.
§ Mr. MANDERWas any public notice given that the tenders were being considered?
§ Major TRYONIt is not a question of tender. The object was to find out which was the best firm to be relied upon.
§ Sir P. HARRISDoes the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not realise that the public get the impression that there is favouritism, although there may not be, because there is no absolute publicity in calling for tenders?
§ Major TRYONThere is no reason for that suggestion.
§ 1. Mr. LEWISasked the Postmaster-General whether, in the matter of the granting of a contract for the carriage of air mails to Scandinavia, he relied upon 1336 the expert advice of a technical adviser attached to the Post Office to advise on matters of aviation, or whether he consulted the Air Ministry directly upon the matter before coming to a decision?
§ Major TRYONAs my hon. Friend was informed on 30th April, the decision to enter into an agreement with British Airways, Limited, for the carriage of mails to Scandinavia, was taken after consultation with the Air Ministry and on the recommendation of the Inter-Departmental Committee on International Air Communications.
§ Mr. LEWISWould my right hon. and gallant Friend explain to the House the purpose of appointing a special air mail adviser to advise the Post Office upon air mail contracts if his advice was not regarded in this case?
§ Major TRYONThe hon. Member is entirely mistaken. The air mail adviser had nothing to do with it, and such a suggestion is not fair to him. He was not a, member of the Departmental Committee nor was he in any way in a position to settle the matter.
§ Major TRYONIn order to advise.
§ Mr. GARRO-JONESWas it not one of the most favourable recommendations of British Airways that they were not objected to by Imperial Airways?
§ Major TRYONThe object was to give the work to the firm best suited to do it.