§ 14. Mr. Beswickasked the Minister of Civil Aviation if it is proposed to reconstitute the Air Transport Advisory Council; and what qualifications he will require of the members of that reconstituted body.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe future work of the Air Transport Advisory Council is expected to be much heavier than in the past, and I am considering some reconstitution of the Council. A further statement will be made shortly.
§ Mr. BeswickThe Minister has not answered the last part of my Question in 2219 which I asked what qualifications will be required for members of this reconstituted body?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Civil Aviation Act, 1949, as the hon. Members knows, has not been altered, and in that Act requirements are laid down as to the sort of experience that these people must have.
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesWill the Minister give an assurance that, in any changes made in the responsibilities of this Council, the responsibility of Ministers to the House for their actions will not be in any way diminished?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThat is certainly so.
§ Mr. BeswickThe Minister is quite right when he says that I know what are the provisions of that Act, but is he aware that the Act provides for the constitution of a body to act as a consumers' council and not for the purpose for which the right hon. Gentleman intends to reconstitute this body?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThat is not at all true. This is an Air Transport Advisory Council and it still remains an advisory council, and the responsibility will be the Minister's. If and when we decide to make it into a licensing body with full powers, then legislation will be necessary. No such legislation is now in contemplation.