HC Deb 11 June 1947 vol 438 cc1037-8
3. Mr. Maclay

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation how soon it is anticipated that facilities will be available for passenger air transport to and from the Dundee, Perth and Angus area of Scotland.

Mr. Lindgren

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dundee (Mr. Cook) on 4th June last.

Mr. Maclay

Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that that reply referred the hon. Member for Dundee (Mr. Cash) to a previous reply? May I further ask whether he realises the extreme urgency and need for these air facilities in that part of the world, and could he state when the review to which he referred in the reply before the last reply is likely to be available?

Mr. Lindgren

Not for some considerable time. The facts are that we have attempted to establish trunk routes, and Dundee is only a two-hour road or rail journey from Edinburgh and about 50 or 60 miles from Perth. It is felt, in the light of the present availability of aircraft, that the main trunk service is the one that serves best, bearing in mind both road and rail facilities.

Mr. Maclay

Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that it is not possible to get a train between the Angus area and the South after eight o'clock in the evening? That is one of the reasons why an air service from Dundee to the South would be of great convenience.

Mr. Lindgren

That is all appreciated, but as I said in reply to that Question last week, Scotland is very important, but we are being pressed from Wales, the West Country and the North-East, which, in fact, have so far no air service whatever.

Sir Ronald Ross

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that he is also being pressed by Northern Ireland?

Mr. Lindgren

Yes, Sir.