HC Deb 20 March 1946 vol 420 cc1843-4
6. Air-Commodore Harvey

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why rail services are not used to transport air passengers between Hum airport and London.

Mr. Ivor Thomas

The railway service is used to transport air passengers between Hurn and London, but passengers are also conveyed by road.

Air-Commodore Harvey

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that passengers have arrived from America at midnight and that they were put into a coach which took four and a half hours to reach London? And will he try to arrange for train services to meet air passengers arriving at midnight?

Mr. Thomas

I know that there are disadvantages owing to Hum airport being so far from the Capital, but this was a wartime necessity and the real answer is to get Heathrow operating as soon as possible.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

As Hum airport is so frequently fog bound, why not divert the traffic to Prestwick?

Flight-Lieutenant Beswick

Is the Par liamentary Secretary aware that when the rail services are used only Pullman tickets are offered? Will he sec that ordinary third and first class tickets are available?

Mr. Thomas

I will consider that.