HC Deb 26 January 1949 vol 460 cc904-5
19. Mr. Willis

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will give the date on which it is proposed to resume the Edinburgh—London air service.

Mr. Lindgren

I am informed by British European Airways Corporation that the service is to be resumed on 1st April.

Mr. Willis

Can my hon. Friend say whether it will be once daily or twice daily?

Mr. Lindgren

There will be 12 services weekly—that is, twice daily on six days a week.

Mr. Spence

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether this service terminates at Edinburgh or whether it will be continued to Aberdeen?

Mr. Lindgren

No, Sir; it terminates at Edinburgh.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Is the Minister aware that there is a strong body of public opinion in Aberdeen which desires a resumption of the air service?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. and learned Member is out of Order.

Mr. Vane

Can the Minister say whether this air service will stop anywhere in the North of England to pick up passengers?

Mr. Lindgren

No, Sir. It is a direct service between London and Edinburgh.

Mr. Scollan

Can the hon. Gentleman tell the House what saving there is in having to send a 20-seater bus from Turnhouse airport, Edinburgh, to Renfrew with one passenger, for the purpose of putting him on the Glasgow to London plane? It is obvious there are more losses than gains.

Mr. Lindgren

My information is entirely different from that of the hon. Member.

Mr. Scollan

That is my experience.

Mr. Lindgren

My information about transport between Renfrew and Turn-house, Edinburgh, is that it is by private car; but if the hon. Member has any different information, I will go into it.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Would you be so kind as to tell me, Mr. Speaker, whether you ruled my supplementary question out of Order, and, if so, why?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. and learned Gentleman asked a question about Aberdeen. This is a Question about the service from Edinburgh to London. I did not know that Aberdeen was part of Edinburgh.

Mr. Hector Hughes

May I draw your attention to the fact that the air service from Aberdeen to London used to call at Edinburgh and it was with that relevance that I asked my supplementary question.

Mr. Speaker

I was not to know that, anyhow.