HC Deb 01 April 1953 vol 513 cc1182-4
4. Mr. Beswick

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation how many applications from independent operators have now been submitted to the Advisory Council under the new directive; how many have been refused, and how many have been recommended by that body; how many have been finally refused and agreed, respectively, by himself; and if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of those services which he has agreed to points outside the United Kingdom, giving the name of the operator, the period of the agreement and the aircraft type with which the service will be operated.

Mr. Profumo

One hundred and sixty-five applications from independent operators have been received by the Air Transport Advisory Council since the revised terms of reference were issued to the Council in July last year. Of these the Council have recommended 35 for rejection and 90 for approval; 12 applications were withdrawn before being considered by the Council. My right hon. Friend has rejected 26 applications, conditionally approved 66 and finally approved nine. Seven applications were withdrawn after the Council had made their recommendations.

I am sending the hon. Member a list of applications conditionally and finally approved, giving the details he asked for.

Mr. Beswick

If I tell the Parliamentary Secretary that I propose to put this Question down on Monday each week in order to get this information, will he not agree that it would be better to send me a copy of the information in the first place?

Mr. Profumo

All I can say to that is that I hope the hon. Member will be careful about how many Questions of this sort he puts down. Having been in my office, he knows very well that this sort of question requires a very great deal of research by the Department concerned. Because of the increasing numbers of applications, we are hard pressed to grant them within a short period.

Mr. Ernest Davies

Why is the Ministry of Civil Aviation so anxious to hide this information? When we had a debate on the change of policy, the Minister was very proud of the alteration which had taken place, but now it is very difficult to obtain information. Cannot the information be placed before the House in some regular way?

Mr. Profumo

I do not think there is any difficulty in getting information. I can assure hon. Members on all sides of the House that we have no desire to hide what we regard as a very good policy. Most of this information is published in the newspapers from time to time, and my right hon. Friend and I are only too willing to give such information. I was merely asking for caution in making requests for information when the Department is under so much pressure.

Mr. Ernest Davies

Can the information be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

Mr. Profumo

The information for which the hon. Gentleman asks is contained in a schedule such as I have in my hand, which is very lengthy and complicated. If the hon. Gentleman will look at what I am proposing to send him, he can decide whether that is sufficient. I am prepared to place two copies in the Library, if the hon. Member desires it.

Mr. Beswick

Is not the Parliamentary Secretary being slightly ridiculous about this? Would not all this be quite unnecessary if he would keep hon. Members up-to-date, circularising not all hon. Members but those who have sufficient interest to ask for the information?