§ 17. Mr. Rankinasked the Minister of Civil Aviation for an assurance that British European Airways Corporation will be allowed an exclusive right for not less than five years to operate the Scottish air services, in order that they may be able to build up the existing services and to exploit new services.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydNo, Sir. The position remains as I stated during the Civil Aviation debate on 29th October.
§ Mr. RankinIn view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman has created somewhat cloudy conditions for operations in Scotland, will be give an assurance that B.E.A. may expand confident that there will be no interference with Scottish air services?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ElliotWill my right hon. Friend give the greatest care to any suggestion of the kind and do his best to see that private commercial companies are encouraged in Scotland? Will he accept the assurance that that would meet with the wishes of the great majority of the people of Scotland?
§ Mr. WoodburnHas the right hon. Gentleman put any stop to B.E.A. developing services in Scotland or, in the meantime while a decision is pending, are they perfectly free to go ahead with essential services?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThey are perfectly free to go ahead, and any limitations which exist at present are due to economic considerations. The uneconomic nature of some of the possible routes is due to no action of the Government. I can assure my right hon. and gallant Friend that if an opportunity arises of giving equally good or better services at less burden on the taxpayer, I shall certainly not close the door to any such negotiations.
Mr. VaneWill my right hon. Friend give an assurance that he will not give authority for any new services between 990 Scotland and London without the provision of a stop in the North of England, particularly in the North-West, which is very badly served since nationalisation?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThat would be a matter for the Air Transport Advisory Council, to whom any such representations might well be made.