§ 7. Mr. John Dugdaleasked the Secretary of State for Air the basis of payment made by the Air Ministry" for the use of civil aerodromes during war-time; and by whom the ground maintenance staff at such aerodromes is paid?
§ The Secretary of State for Air (Sir Archibald Sinclair)The basis of payment for the use of civil aerodromes depends on whether the aerodrome is leased under a pre-war agreement or has been requisitioned, or is merely used for casual landings. In the first case, the payment for user and the method of remunerating the ground staff are laid down in the lease; in the second, the owner is compensated under the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, and the ground staff are paid directly by the Air Ministry or by the operating company; and in the third, casual landings are paid for by agreement or at standard rates prescribed in the aerodrome licence, remuneration of the ground staff being the concern of the owner.
§ Mr. DugdaleIs not payment in the first place made on the basis of flying time, and is not that an encouragement to people to make unnecessary flights, in order to get more payments?
§ Sir A. SinclairIn the first place, payment is made under the terms of the leases, No leases have been entered into during the war; we now proceed by requisitioning.
§ Mr. DugdaleIs there no possibility of altering the terms of the leases in cases where they involve flying time?
§ Sir A. SinclairAlterations in the terms of the leases can be made only, of course, by agreement between the parties.