§ 1. Colonel Stoddart-Scottasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation when a daily scheduled air service between the Leeds-Bradford airport and London is likely to commence.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (Mr. Lindgren)I am informed by British European Airways Corporation that their programme for the coming year does not include a service between Yeadon and London and I cannot give any indication when it will be introduced.
§ Colonel Stoddart-ScottDoes not the Minister realise that there is a very large centre of industrial population in the West Riding of Yorkshire which is not at present catered for by any air line, and will he bear in mind that there are more people within 50 miles of this airport than within 50 miles of the London Airport?
§ Mr. LindgrenThe distance between Leeds and Bradford and London is comparatively short. The surface communications are good and such an air service would not be an economical proposition.
Mr. Ivor ThomasWill the Minister be willing, under arrangements recently made, to allow a private company to operate such a service if it should so wish?
§ Mr. LindgrenOn 26th January, in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Proctor), I said that the Air Transport Advisory Council are willing to receive and consider such 1646 applications. If such an application is made, it will be considered.
§ Colonel Stoddart-ScottIs the Minister aware that there is a civil private line which wishes to run a scheduled service, and will he use his influence with B.E.A.C. to consider such an application?
§ Mr. LindgrenThere is an advisory council set up to consider such applications, and I think that the hon. and gallant Gentleman will agree that it would be unwise and improper for me to use my influence one way or another.
2. Mr. Vaneasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what plans he has for the resumption of air services between London and the North of England.
§ Mr. LindgrenBritish European Airways Corporation do not propose to provide services between London and the North of England during the coming year; nor can I say when they will be in a position to do so.
Mr. VaneHas the hon. Gentleman forgotten that before his Department laid a dead hand on these airlines there was a service between London and the North of England, and will he look into this matter again and restore this service?
§ Mr. LindgrenTo describe these haphazard operations which existed between London and the North of England as a service is being very kind to them. If any private company wishes to make application for such a service now, the avenue is open for them to do so.
§ 3. Mr. Willisasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what services, other than the London—Edinburgh service, it is proposed to run from Edinburgh.
§ Mr. LindgrenNone, Sir, but the London—Edinburgh service will be routed through to Glasgow, and seats will be available between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
§ Mr. WillisWill my hon. Friend ask the B.E.A.C. to reconsider the question of the resumption of the Edinburgh—Aberdeen—Orkney service?
§ Mr. LindgrenSo far as Edinburgh and Aberdeen are concerned, these districts have had their opportunity of 1647 showing enthusiasm and effective demand for the service but the traffic offering was very slight indeed and did not justify the resumption of the service. The traffic flow is from Aberdeen to the Shetlands and from the Shetlands to Aberdeen, and that service is provided.
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanIn view of the answers to the last three Questions, can the hon. Gentleman say where the services are to be run?
§ Mr. LindgrenIn the view of quite a number of people, Scotland gets far more than its share of such services.