HC Deb 05 December 1951 vol 494 cc2357-8
2. Mr. Beswick

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation if he can yet state the Government's policy with regard to future ownership of British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways Corporation.

Mr. Maclay

No change of ownership is contemplated.

Mr. Beswick

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there will be general approval of the repudiation by the Minister of his Conservative colleagues who, before the Election, stated that parts would be handed back to private enterprise?

Mr. Maclay

There is no repudiation whatsoever in the reply I have given. I have answered the Question strictly according to the way in which it was asked.

Mr. Beswick

If there is no repudiation, can the hon. Gentleman explain the statement by the right hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Lennox-Boyd) who did say that the Conservative Party intended to restore a measure of private enterprise in this field?

Mr. Maclay

I think that from the remarks the hon. Member has made he will see that that supplementary question does not arise out of the Question on the Order Paper.