§ 50. Sir T. Mooreasked the Minister of Civil Aviation if he has yet decided how the civil aviation needs of Scotland are to be met: and, in particular, whether it will be by public corporation or private enterprise.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe air Corporations will continue to be responsible for meeting the air transport needs of Scotland, but I should certainly examine with all the interests concerned any proposal from independent operators to provide the internal services of Scotland with equal efficiency and without cost to the taxpayer.
§ Sir T. MooreWhile warmly thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask, in view of our sad experience of the loss incurred by State enterprise, would it not be wiser to leave Scotland now to be served by a private undertaking, especially as there is one at Prestwick able and willing to do so?
§ Mr. Emrys HughesIs the Minister aware that the private enterprise line that used to run planes from Prestwick to London was discontinued because the hon. and gallant Gentleman did not patronise it?
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable risk that if lines are granted to people who are merely going speculatively to run them for a few weeks and then drop them, it is much better to rely on the well-established and permanent lines which exist under the Corporation?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThere is no reason why there should not be, in the fullness of time, a happy partnership between private and public operators in Scotland, as I announced, at considerable length, in a statement on 29th October, and there has been no departure from that.
Mr. VaneWill my right hon. Friend impress on these airlines, whether public or private, the advantage of stopping in the North of England when flying between Scotland and London?
§ Mr. BeswickCan the Minister say whether there is in Scotland a private enterprise company ready and willing to undertake air services there, including the difficult services?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI have always made it plain that the door is open, subject to certain qualifications which I have laid down. It is not for me to say whether there is anyone available to take advantage of that.
§ Mr. ManuelIs the Minister aware that many of the feeder services inside Scotland are quite uneconomic, and private companies will not run them; further, that services have been offered to private companies and they have not been taken up?