POST-WAR CIVIL AVIATION (Hansard, 28 January 1943)

§ 45 and 46. Mr. Ellis Smith
asked the Minister without Portfolio (1) whether any consultations have taken place between his Ministry and representatives of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on post-war civil aviation; 611 what is the policy of the Government; and can a statement be made on what has taken place;
(2) whether it is intended to carry out a large-scale development of civil aviation for passengers and freight carrying immediately on the termination of hostilities; and what action has been taken in order to organise the most efficient service at the minimum charges?

§ The Minister without Portfolio (Sir William Jowitt)
No consultations on the subject of post-war civil aviation have, as yet, taken place with the Governments of the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. As regards the policy and intentions of the Government, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statements made in the Debate on the Adjournment on 17th December by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Air. My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Air and the Minister of Aircraft Production have set up a small technical Departmental Committee under the chairmanship of Lord Brabazon of Tara to inquire and advise them in-regard to the question of the development of types of aeroplanes for civil aviation and to report as soon as possible.

§ Mr. Smith
Has that Committee taken the place of the Inter-departmental Committee or, if there is still an Inter-departmental Committee, when did it last meet and when can the House expect an interim report on this question?

§ Sir W. Jowitt
The Inter-departmental Committee under the chairmanship of Lord Brabazon is a technical committee set up to deal with particular matters of types. The matter of civil aviation has been under very close consideration recently, which has resulted in this committee being set up.

§ Mr. Smith
In view of the increasing concern in the country, can my right hon. and learned Friend say when the Interdepartmental Committee, if it is still in existence, last met?

§ Sir W. Jowitt
The original Interdepartmental Committee has not met for a long time. Consideration has been proceeding on other lines.

Colonel Arthur Evans
Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that Con- 612 gress is contemplating setting up a committee to go into this question of international post-war civil aviation in its broadest aspects, and as the Committee to which he has referred is purely technical in character does he not consider that it would be well for us to follow the example of our American friends?