HC Deb 04 December 1946 vol 431 cc312-3
8. Sir Basil Neven-Spence

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why aircraft flying between Renfrew and Orkney and Shetland are allowed to land at Aberdeen for refuelling but may not set down or take up passengers.

Mr. Lindgren

The aircraft referred to are operated by Scottish Airways under agreement with the British European Airways Corporation to provide for through traffic to and from the Orkneys and Shetlands, via Inverness. Landings are only made at Aberdeen at the discretion of the pilot for reasons of weather or other factors calling for refuelling there. The service from Aberdeen to Orkney and Shetlands is being operated by Allied Airways (Gandar Dower) Limited, as agents for British European Airways Corporation. It would be uneconomic to the finance of the latter service to allow the two services to overlap by providing for scheduled operations of the former through Aberdeen. These arrangements are, however, only temporary pending the taking over of these services by British European Airways Corporation, when arrangements will, according to present plans, be made for the combined service to operate via Aberdeen with passenger stops in both directions.

10. Sir B. Neven-Spence

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if it is proposed to establish a regular air service between Kirkwall and the north Isles of Orkney.

Mr. Lindgren

It is the British European Airways Corporation's intention to establish a regular inter-island service in the Orkneys when suitable landing grounds are available. The corporation will use larger aircraft than were used in the Orkneys before the war. An investigation into the state of the existing landing grounds was started last October with a view to making them adequate for the larger aircraft.

Sir B. Neven-Spence

Will it not be possible to use the aircraft which were in use before the war, when we had a very good inter-island service there? The people are anxious to have it re-established as quickly as possible.

Mr. Lindgren

It is the desire of my noble Friend to re-establish the service at the earliest possible moment.