HC Deb 09 July 1947 vol 439 cc2185-6
17. Mr. Cooper

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, when he anticipates being able to publish, with complete detail, full statistics of operations for the three civil aviation corporations and charter airlines, similar to those which are published monthly by the Civil Aeronautics Administration in the U.S.A.

Mr. Lindgren

The necessary preparatory work is proceeding for the monthly publication of detailed civil air transport statistics, but I regret that I am not at present in a position to give a definite date when publication will commence.

Mr. Cooper

Will my hon. Friend see that when the details are published they will give the fullest information, not only about the operations of the civil airways corporations, but the operations of the charter companies, to ensure that they do not exceed the sphere of their activities, as limited by the Civil Aviation Act?

Mr. Lindgren

My hon. Friend will know that P.I.C.A.O. is dealing with the general question of fares and statistics. I can assure him that we shall honour P.I.C.A.O. recommendations to the full, but charter statistics are not so easy to obtain.

Sir W. Wakefield

Is the hon. Gentleman getting all the information he wants from the charter companies? Are they being co-operative?

Mr. Lindgren

They are being most co-operative but, naturally, they do not want to disclose to competitors figures which might be likely to embarrass them in their trading undertakings.