HC Deb 09 May 1951 vol 487 cc1931-2
13. Colonel J. R. H. Hutchison

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what steps he proposes to take in order to give effect to the recommendation of the Air Transport Advisory Council in their report of 8th February, 1951, that the public should not be denied the benefit of air travel on cross-country routes.

Mr. Beswick

I have nothing at present to add to the statement which my noble Friend issued with the report.

Colonel Hutchison

Does the Minister not realise that this means that cross-country air services are in a very unsatisfactory state and that companies, contrary to the statement which he made in this House earlier, cannot re-equip their fleets in a period of five years unless they have remunerative as well as unremunerative routes?

Mr. Beswick

I appreciate that. If we give the remunerative routes to one set of operators, we are obviously taking them away from another set of operators, and someone has to bear the uneconomic burden. The question is who should bear that burden.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

In view of the promise made by the hon. Gentleman's predecessor that cross-country routes would be added to considerably when air transport was nationalised, can he say what has happened to that promise, since Errol Aerodrome has now become a speedway track and no use is made of it for flying?

Mr. Beswick

I would like to see that Question on the Order Paper before I give the information for which the hon. and gallant Gentleman asks. Ninety-seven associate agreements have been granted this year and they are pretty well all in respect of these so-called cross country routes. We ought not to underestimate the progress that has been made.

Colonel Hutchison

I beg to give notice that if there is time before a change of Government, I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.