HC Deb 21 March 1945 vol 409 cc798-9
38. Major Neven-Spence

asked the Postmaster-General on how many days in each year since the services were inaugurated have the aircraft due to carry mail from Inverness to Orkney and from Aberdeen to Shetland failed to take off.

Captain Crookshank

As the reply contains a number of figures I will, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Major Neven-Spence

Do not the figures disclose the fact that owing to meteorological conditions a much more regular service can be maintained from Inverness than from Aberdeen, and would he look into the possibility of sending all the Shetland mail from Inverness in future?

Captain Crookshank

I must leave my hon. and gallant Friend to form his own conclusions from the long list of figures which I am supplying.

Following are the figures:

Excluding cancellations on Air Ministry instructions particulars of failure to take off are as follows:

1938. 1939. 1940. 1941.
Inverness—Orkney Nil Nil 6 8
Aberdeen—Shetland 2 9 51 43
1942. 1943. 1944. 1945.
Inverness—Orkney 2 4 4 Nil
Aberdeen—Shetland 33 8 11 13

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