HC Deb 29 July 1946 vol 426 c700

Lords Amendment: In page 12, line 29, at end, insert: being a form which shall conform with the best commercial standards and which shall distinguish between the provision of air transport facilities upon scheduled journeys, the provision of air transport facilities otherwise than upon such journeys, and the carrying out of aerial work which does not consist of the provision of air transport facilities.

Mr. Ivor Thomas

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

As I explained in Committee, there will be some difficulty in regard to the precise allocation of cost between scheduled journeys, charter journeys and other forms of aerial work. We think, however, that it is possible to accept this Amendment, and I recommend its acceptance.

Sir W. Darling

Would the Parliamentary Secretary satisfy my curiosity about the definition of the term "best commercial standards"? Will there be a commercial standard in the nationalisation operation upon which the Parliamentary Secretary is engaged?

Mr. Thomas

To be frank, they are not words I should have put into the Bill myself. They were suggested in another place. It may be presumed that any accounts presented by a public corporation will conform to the best commercial standards. I do not, however, feel disposed to make a fight for a particular form of words.