§ 5. Mr. Beswickasked the Minister of Civil Aviation how many routes have been allocated to private air operators over the past three years; and in how many cases have the services not been started, or have been started and since terminated.
§ Mr. MaudlingOver the past three years, 226 applications for associate agreements involving 148 routes have been provisionally approved. Of the services covered by these applications, 90 were never started and 15 were terminated before the expiration of the period for which the services were approved.
§ Mr. BeswickIn view of the number of apparently irresponsible applications, can the hon. Gentleman say whether any penalty attaches to those operators who make applications for licences, are granted the licences, and do not fulfil them?
§ Mr. MaudlingThe majority of these applications which were made and subsequently not completed took place during the tenure of office of the previous Government; and in fact during the tenure of office of the hon. Gentleman asking the Question. This is one of the reasons why my right hon. Friend is considering an alteration in the terms of reference of the Air Transport Advisory Council.
§ Mr. BeswickDoes the hon. Gentleman not realise that those applications were for minor services; that under the new policy these new services will be very important and likely to damage the forward planning of the Corporation; and in these new circumstances does he not think it is essential to have some penalty on irresponsible applicants?
§ Mr. MaudlingThe new policy is to be governed by the new terms of reference of the Air Transport Advisory Council.
§ Mr. MikardoWhat is the use of reconstituting and strengthening the Advisory Council and giving it new terms of reference, and then by-passing it in respect of what ought to be a very important part of its functions?