§ 21. Major Mott-Radclyffeasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation how many British European Airways services operate weekly on the Mediterranean routes; and how soon it is proposed to replace with British European Airways aircraft those services now operated by Transport Command.
§ Mr. LindgrenThe answer to the first part of the Question is seven. The services operate to Gibraltar, Marseilles, Rome, Athens, Istanbul and Ankara. As regards the second part of the Question, the replacement of Transport Command services by civil air services, where necessary, is a continuing process, kept constantly under review, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air. It is not possible to say, at present, when this process will be complete.
§ Major Mott-RadclyffeWhat was the difficulty in the way of complete replacement of Transport Command aircraft by British European Airways machines?
§ Mr. LindgrenThe difficulty has always been that Transport Command contracted much more quickly than civil aviation has been able to expand. The expansion of civil aviation is retarded by the lack of aircraft available and, in some instances, by lack of available ground facilities.