HC Deb 09 May 1951 vol 487 cc1929-31
12. Mr. Geoffrey Hirst

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will make a statement with regard to the chartered air services between Yeadon and London.

19. Colonel Cyril Banks

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what plans are in hand to arrange an air service from the West Riding of Yorkshire to London in the near future; and when this service is likely to open.

20. Mr. W. J. Taylor

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what steps are being taken to replace the air services between London and Leeds—Bradford, Manchester, Blackpool, and Liverpool, formerly provided by the Lancashire Aircraft Corporation.

21. Colonel Stoddart-Scott

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he is aware of the decision of his Area Transport Advisory Council which has caused the suspension of the London—Leeds—Bradford air service; and if he will take steps to restore this, the only air service between London and Yorkshire.

22. Mr. Kaberry

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will make a statement upon his refusal to grant the necessary authorisation or licence for a sufficient number of years to permit the commercial running of charter air services from Yeadon (Leeds—Bradford) Airport and Northolt.

Mr. Beswick

On the recommendation of the Air Transport Advisory Council, my noble Friend, in January, approved applications from the Lancashire Aircraft Corporation to operate associate services between Northolt and the various places mentioned for varying periods up to five years. In April, my noble Friend was informed that this company had decided not to operate any of the services so authorised unless they were granted five-year agreements on all the routes. The-Air Transport Advisory Council will, of course, consider any further applications for these routes but it seems unlikely that another private company can now provide sufficient resources to operate the services in question this year. The question of the services being operated next year, either separately or as part of an integrated network, is being examined.

Mr. Hirst

Is the Minister aware that on the information available to me from the Lancashire Aircraft Corporation they were only too ready to operate the service if a five-year agreement could be provided as any lesser period would not allow them to get a reasonable return for their capital outlay? His decision means, in effect, that some of these services are left without any connection at all. This is very keenly felt in the Leeds and Bradford area.

Mr. Beswick

I am well aware of the information from the Lancashire Aircraft Corporation. I appreciate their difficulty, and we are intending to discuss these matters with that Corporation in the very near future.

Colonel Stoddart-Scott

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that there is now no link by air between London and Yorkshire, and that the West Riding service was used by industrialists and West Riding Members of Parliament? Will he be good enough to receive a deputation, so that we can put before him the case for granting a five-year lease for a service between Leeds and London?

Mr. Beswick

Speaking for myself, and, I am sure, for my noble Friend, we would be glad to receive a deputation. I would point out that there is often a very big gap between the rather vague estimates of traffic capacity put forward by Members of the House and the actual revenue received by the operating companies, and that it is because this particular company do not think that it is a profitable route that they are not operating this year.

Colonel Banks

If application is made to operate a service from Yeadon to London for a period of five years, would the hon. Gentleman agree to the granting of a licence for that purpose?

Mr. Beswick

That is so. Permission has already been given to operate this service.

Colonel Banks

For five years?

Mr. Beswick

Yes.

Mr. Shepherd

Is the hon. Gentleman not misleading the House? The company are not refusing to operate the routes on the ground that they are not profitable in the general sense, but because they cannot purchase aircraft to use for only two or three years; they must have some guarantee of continuity.

Mr. Beswick

I am not misleading the House. Permission to operate the service for five years was granted.