CIVIL AVIATION (Hansard, 17 December 1942)

§ Captain Balfour
As I was saying, even if we cannot actually build civil aircraft at present because of our war needs, we can, at any rate, plan out the broad types likely to be needed.
There are many big issues yet to be decided by the Government, perhaps advised by bodies which may be specially set up for this purpose.

§ Mr. Simmonds
Have the Government considered instead of setting up an outside body, having a Joint Standing Committee of both Houses to go into this question of civil aviation?

§ Captain Balfour
Obviously I cannot say anything about that to-day, except that I am sure those responsible for setting up any bodies that may be decided upon in the future will take due note of my hon. Friend's suggestion.

§ Mr. Granville
Is the Air Ministry or the Ministry of Aircraft Production responsible for the design of any future civil aircraft?

§ Captain Balfour
We are working in close concert. The Ministry of Aircraft Production is responsible for design of all aircraft.

§ Mr. Granville
Then why, in an important Debate of this kind, has there been no representative of the Ministry of Aircraft Production present?

§ Captain Balfour
Because the Debate has ranged over many subjects, affecting more than one Department, and it has been decided that I should do my best to represent the views of those Departments. Whatever may be the answer as to these big issues which have yet to be decided, such as the method of operation of civil aircraft after the war, for instance, my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Erdington raised the question whether we should have one or more chosen instruments; then the question has been raised whether civil aviation should stay with the Air Ministry; then there is the question whether a special Minister should be 2156 responsible for civil aviation and whether existing transport interests should participate and, if so, in what form or what international instrument should be set up for ensuring maximum safety for travellers or for a common air port policy—whatever may be the answer to these various issues, one thing is sure: We are determined to have our place in the air transport system of the world for the British Commonwealth of Nations to link up its own interests with those of the other nations of the world.
For this we and the whole world will need aircraft and in large numbers. At the end of the war we may be faced with two alternatives unless we safeguard the position now as far as we are able. Either we shall have to contemplate closing down a large part of the aircraft industry, employing more than 1,000,000 workers, and hope that the industrial labour market will be able to absorb and use the skill of those men elsewhere, or we shall have to continue building bombers and fighters for which there may be little or no use in the numbers that we shall be producing at the end of the war.
It is because the Government are determined that this shall not happen that we are prepared to take bold decisions as to what we are to do in the future. Post-war civil aviation is but one piece in the jigsaw of the building-up of the post-war world, the preparation and co-ordination of which, as far as this country is concerned, is in the hands of the Paymaster-General. But I am authorised to say that the Government are now actively considering what these bold measures should be and what form they should take. If decisions can be properly taken now, we shall certainly take them. If further examination is required, this shall be arranged for in the best form to reach a speedy conclusion. In either case the House will be fully informed as soon as we are in a position to do so. I repeat, in conclusion, that only now for the first time are we able to lift our eyes from the immediate, urgent needs of the present to look to the possibilities of the future. Only the Government can decide when this can properly be done, and the Government will inform Parliament as soon as possible of the steps which they recommend should be taken to found a policy for post-war civil aviation which shall be worthy of our people.