HC Deb 05 February 1947 vol 432 cc1757-9
34. Mr. Willis

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he will now make a statement about the proposed withdrawal of the ground controlled approach system crew from Prestwick.

Mr. Lindgren

Following the statement on the subject by 'my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland on 29th January, 1947, a review of the proposal to withdraw a Royal Air Force ground controlled approach crew from Prestwick has been made in consultation with the Air Ministry, Scottish Office and the chairman of the Scottish Advisory Council. The crew is required to operate a ground controlled approach set recently installed at London Airport and to train civil crews as speedily as possible to operate sets to be installed at other airports, including Renfrew. The sets at present in operation form part of the Royal Air Force system required primarily for fighter aircraft for which ground controlled approach is the sole runway approach in emergency and bad weather. The transfer of the ground controlled approach set and crew from Prestwick to a Royal Air Force station in Eastern Scotland was already planned, and the decision to transfer the crew temporarily to London Airport for the purposes stated was based on the much superior weather record of Prestwick compared with that of other stations at which ground controlled approach is installed. According to official statistics, ground controlled approach was used at Prestwick during the period October to December, 1946, on 86 occasions. Corresponding figures for other stations range from 133 to 437.

My noble Friend is satisfied, following his review, that no alternative arrangements consistent with the over-riding consideration of safety of air navigation, are possible, and that, in view of weather conditions in the London area at this season of the year, the transfer of the crew on 7th February from Prestwick should proceed. Runway approach aids at Prestwick, fully adequate to safe operation, will continue to be maintained.

Mr. Willis

Am I to understand from that reply that the ground controlled approach system at Prestwick is to be moved to another airfield in the East of Scotland, and if so, which one?

Mr. Lindgren

The ground controlled approach set and crew now at Prestwick are under R.A.F. control, and what happens to the set and to the crew is a matter for the R.A.F. The crew is coming from Prestwick to London Airport to operate and to train crews. It will then be released, and my information is that it will go to an air station in the East of Scotland which is a fighter station.

Sir T. Moore

As I raised this matter with the Secretary of State for Scotland last week, I would like to know why, in view of the five, six or seven years that the R.A.F. have been operating this method of approach, they have not more crews available to work the method instead of having to strip Prestwick, and thereby show once more that a blow has been aimed by England and Whitehall at our native industry at Prestwick?

Mr. Lindgren

That question ought to be directed more to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air. The number of sets in operation is not determined by the number of sets that we desire to operate, but by the number of crews available, and the number of crews available has been affected by the rate of release and demobilisation.

Lieut.-Colonel Elliot

If all that is so, why was not some statement made to the Advisory Council? What is the point of setting up an Advisory Council and then withholding from it all the information necessary for it to carry out its work? Does not this show, as we said at the time, that it is simply a stooge to cover up the Ministry's policy?

Mr. Lindgren

The chairman of the Scottish Advisory Council was consulted and he is in agreement, knowing the facts, with the move that is taking place.

Lieut.-Colonel Elliot

How does the Minister square that with the fact that the chairman made a statement in the Press that this was entirely news to him, and that he had to be brought down to London and consulted after a decision had been announced?

Mr. Lindgren

The way in which the Scottish Press seems to ascertain anticipated moves is really remarkable. In fact, the decision was in the Scottish Press while the matter was still under discussion between my noble Friend and the Secretary of State for Air.

Lieut.-Colonel Elliot

Was it not just as well that it was, because the decision taken was already resented not only in Scotland, but by the Scottish Advisory Council? If the Council had not heard of it from the Press, apparently it was not going to hear of it from the Ministry.