§ 21. Major Sir Basil Neven-Spenceasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if it is proposed to form a Scottish airways division of the projected British-European Airways Corporation; and, if so, will the operational management of Scottish air services be left entirely in the hands of Scotsmen resident in Scotland.
§ 24. Lieut. -Colonel Sir Thomas Mooreasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether it is proposed to establish, in Scotland, a purely Scottish organisation to administer air services, aircraft construction and the international airport, with freedom to make airline agreements with other countries.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (Mr. Ivor Thomas)With permission, I will answer Question No. 21 and Question No. 24 together.
§ Sir T. MooreOn a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. I must withhold my permission. My Question is fundamentally and very substantially different from Question No. 21.
Mr. ThomasThere will be a Scottish division of British European Airways which, as part of that corporation, will be responsible for the administration of air services within and radiating from Scotland, and there will be a Scottish Advisory Committee to advise the corporation. There will also be a Scottish regional headquarters to administer all transport aerodromes in Scotland, including the international airport. The making of agreements with other countries for all services will remain in the hands of the Government. Questions on aircraft construction should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply and Aircraft Production.
§ Mr. H. HyndCan the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that this will not lead to Scotsmen being displaced from principal managerial posts elsewhere?
§ Sir T. MooreIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this is the first satisfactory answer we have had on Scottish aviation since the Government came into power?