75. Air Commodore Harveyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what is the total establishment of his Department's divisional headquarters; and to what figure is this number expected to expand when the take-over of existing aerodromes, privately or municipally owned, have been taken over by his Department.
§ Mr. BeswickThe answer to the first part of the Question is 429. No appreciable increase on this figure is anticipated.
Air Commodore HarveyDoes the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that greater economies could be made if he handed back some of the smaller aerodromes to the local authorities?
§ Mr. BeswickNo, Sir. Indeed, we get representations from the owners of various aerodromes asking us to take some of the aerodromes over.
76. Air Commodore Harveyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what is the establishment, size and cost of the North-West Divisional Headquarters of his Department; how many airfields do they control; what Ministry of Civil Aviation personnel are employed on these airfields; and what is the annual cost of operating the airfields.
§ Mr. BeswickEstablishment and strength were both 89 on 1st July, 1950, and the current cost of the Northern Divisional Headquarters is about £42,500 a year. The Headquarters control five aerodromes employing 482 staff, and the operating cost was about £471,000 in the year ended 31st March, 1950.
§ Mr. BeswickNo, Sir.