§ 34 and 35. Mr. A. Edward Daviesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (I) what effects on air traffic the recent restrictions on overseas travel are having; and what adjustment in the services has been made, or contemplated;
(2) what effect the recent cuts in capital expenditure and the restrictions on overseas travel have had on the development programme of his Department and the three air corporations.
§ Mr. LindgrenSo far as the British Overseas Airways Corporation and British South American Airways Corporation are concerned, the recent restrictions on overseas travel have had only a negligible effect. No adjustment of services has been caused thereby nor is any contemplated. As regards B.E.A.'s continental services, the number of passengers carried in October was about 25 per cent. below that carried in September. It is, however, impossible to say how much of this reduction was seasonal and how much attributable to the restrictions on overseas travel. The frequencies of certain continental services have been adjusted to the traffic. As to the effect upon the development programme of my Department, I would refer my hon. Friend to Appendix A5 of the recently published Government White Paper on Capital Investment (Cmd. Paper 7268).
§ Mr. Douglas MarshallMay I ask the Minister whether, in view of the adjustment to which he has just referred, he will consider the possibility of introducing an air service to the West of England and Cornwall?
§ Mr. LindgrenThat does not arise out of this Question.