§ 43. Mr. Neil Macleanasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he has given further consideration to the necessity for continuing the Renfrew aerodrome in view of the purposes it serves; whether he has agreed to the proposal of the Renfrew Town Council for a continuation for a further five years; and whether, if no agreement has been arrived at, he can make a statement of his intentions on this matter?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadAs I explained to the hon. Member in an answer on 3rd May, the difficulty in recognising Renfrew aerodrome permanently as the civil aerodrome for South-West Scotland arises from the fact that the aerodrome suffers from certain disabilities. With a view to meeting the wishes of the town council of Renfrew as far as possible, my Noble Friend has approved of arrangements under which the Royal Air Force aerodrome at Abbotsinch may be used temporarily as a standby aerodrome for Renfrew aerodrome when conditions render it undesirable for aircraft to use the latter aerodrome. Subject to agreement being reached on arrangements for supplementing the resources of Renfrew aerodrome on these lines, he has agreed 1412 to undertake that Renfrew shall continue to be recognised as the civil aerodrome for South-West Scotland for a further period of three years. If on the expiration of this period a more suitable aerodrome is not available for the purpose, the question of extending the period of recognition will be considered. The town council has been informed accordingly, and representatives of my Department are visiting Renfrew to-day in order to explain in greater detail to the town council the arrangements proposed.
§ Mr. MaxtonDoes the Minister indicate that three years is the maximum term? I recognise that it is an advance of a year since the last statement, and that is so much to the good, but is the period of three years a reasonable one to offer to a place which has been steadily developed and is expending money in development? Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman recognise that this is the air port for the West of Scotland and has been so for the last five years, that it has never had an accident and fully satisfies the air lines that have been using it; and does he think that three years is an adequate period in the circumstances?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadAs I explained to the hon. Member the other day, the Government have to keep in mind the public interest before they give anything like a permanent guarantee that any particular aerodrome should be the aerodrome for a particular part of the country. There are certain disabilities in regard to the Renfrew aerodrome which I understand—
§ Mr. MaxtonWhat are they?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadWith regard to surface, site and surroundings—which, I understand, are difficult to overcome. It is therefore not easy to give anything like a permanent guarantee. Since last I answered a question on this subject, Renfrew Town Council and the Air Ministry have been in correspondence, and a representative of the Ministry is now going to the aerodrome to discuss the matter. I believe that these arrangements will be satisfactorily concluded.
§ Mr. MacleanWill the results of the conversations and discussions that are to ensue between the representatives of the Air Ministry and of Renfrew Town Council be made known to the House after they have been completed and reported to the Minister?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadIf the hon. Gentleman wishes for further information I should be glad if he would put down a question on the subject.
§ Mr. MaxtonWill the Minister visit the aerodrome himself to see how completely he has been misinformed in this matter, and to realise that this aerodrome compares very favourably with Croydon and Speke, and is superior to any other civil aerodrome in the country?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadI have already told the hon. Member that representatives of the Air Ministry are at Renfrew discussing the matter with the town council. If he has any further information, we shall be glad to consider it.