9. Colonel Hutchisonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he is prepared to put all Government requirements in the matter of using aircraft for travel on Government account to tenders open to charter companies outside the Corporation as well as to the Corporation.
§ Mr. LindgrenThis suggestion is already under consideration.
Colonel HutchisonIs the Minister aware that, in connection with the recent flight of the Minister, about which there has been criticism, charter companies were not given the chance of quoting, and that, on their own statement, they could have done it much cheaper?
§ Mr. LindgrenIn regard to the latter part of the hon. and gallant Gentleman's question, I very much doubt the assertion; in so far as the first part is concerned, the Corporations themselves are always given the first opportunity of accepting the charter. If they cannot do it themselves, they try to put it out to other charter firms.
Colonel DowerIs the hon. Gentleman satisfied that charter company services are really being given a fair chance, as the information which I have received is to the opposite effect?
§ Mr. LindgrenThe answer is, "Yes, Sir."
§ Mr. Langford-HoltIn view of what the Minister has just said, that the Corporations are given the first chance, does that mean that price does not enter into it, or is consideration given to the price quoted?
§ Mr. LindgrenIn air transport, as in all other businesses, there are general rules, practices and prices which apply.
§ Mr. RankinIf charter companies are to get the same chance as the scheduled services, will my hon. Friend see that the conditions of maintenance and service staffs conform to those in the Corporations?
§ Mr. LindgrenPrivate enterprise is never as safe as State enterprise.
Colonel HutchisonI beg to give notice that, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
§ 12. Mr. Lennox-Boydasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether, in the event of a Corporation being unable or unwilling to run a scheduled service, the Corporations are empowered to sub-contract to charter companies the running of similar services on their behalf.
§ Mr. LindgrenYes, Sir.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIf, as I understood, the answer to this Question was "Yes, Sir," will the hon. Gentleman publish in the annual report a list of those services which the companies are unable to perform, but which they are prepared to tender to private charter companies to operate?
§ Mr. LindgrenSpeaking from memory—and I hope the hon. Gentleman will not hold me to it too much—the accounts of the Corporations do show the charters undertaken by private companies on behalf of the Corporations.