HC Deb 02 July 1952 vol 503 cc399-401
4. Mr. Beswick

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation whether the application recently made by a private Scottish company to operate air services in Scotland is, under his regulations, required to be considered initially by the Air Transport Advisory Council.

Mr. Maudling

The future organisation for air services in Scotland presents a special case and my right hon. Friend does not at present contemplate that it should be dealt with by application through the Air Transport Advisory Council in the ordinary way.

Mr. Beswick

Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that under the new policy this will be a special case; and does he mean to say that in precisely these more important and controversial cases the protection which the Advisory Council is alleged to provide will not in fact be given?

Mr. Maudling

What I said was that special considerations apply in the case of Scotland. In matters like this the House always recognises that special considerations apply in the case of Scotland. There is however a very great difference between internal services, where it is a question of the possibility of superseding existing services, and external services, where it is merely a question of new services or new types of service.

Mr. Rankin

Will the Minister bear in mind that the public Corporation has met, in the most excellent fashion, every demand made upon it in Scotland to date for civil air transport?

Mr. Maudling

My right hon. Friend will certainly bear all relevant considerations in mind.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that the nationalised Corporations are doing nothing of the kind, and that there is a large area of Scotland which is entirely free from any form of air service which we used to have under private enterprise?

Mr. Maudling

I think that was covered by my previous answer.

Mr. Woodburn

Would the hon. Gentleman and his right hon. Friend be careful not to interfere with the Scottish services until he makes quite sure that it is not disturbing the well-balanced arrangements where aircraft serve the public for civil aviation purposes, and also for the Highlands Health Service and many other public utilities?

Mr. Maudling

My right hon. Friend will certainly not make any change until he is convinced that such a change is in the general public interest.