§ 29. Mr. Beswickasked the Minister of Civil Aviation if he has yet any statement to make about the future ownership and control of air services in Scotland.
§ Mr. MaudlingNo, Sir.
§ Mr. BeswickIs the Parliamentary Secretary now saying that he is leaving the management and the men of this Corporation in continued uncertainty about the future of their livelihood?
§ Mr. MaudlingIt could, on the other hand, be argued that the possibility of some other operator providing an equally good service at a cheaper cost might spur them on to even greater efforts.
§ Mr. RossCould the Minister tell us what has been the outcome of the discussions which the Minister of Transport had with private flying interests around Prestwick and elsewhere during the Recess?
§ Mr. MaudlingAs I have said, my right hon. Friend is not in a position to make a further statement at present.
§ Mr. BeswickDoes the Minister mean by his last statement that he intends to leave this threat over the heads of the Corporation indefinitely?
§ Mr. MaudlingI merely said, in answer to a Question, that my right hon. Friend has as yet no statement to make about the future ownership of these air services.
§ Mr. WoodburnWould the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend to be careful when he gets offers from private individuals for enterprises in this connection? Will he ask his right hon. Friend to make careful inquiries into their antecedents, because a good many people are making spurious claims to be able to do things?
§ Mr. MaudlingMy right hon. Friend has made it clear on more than one occasion that he will make no change in this matter until he is entirely satisfied that such a change would be in the public interest.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ElliotWill my hon. Friend make sure that every opportunity is given for the transfer of this very out-of-date State enterprise to modern up-to-date private enterprise?
§ Mr. MaudlingMy right hon. Friend will take very good care that any opportunities of serving the public interest in general will be taken.