§ 41. Mr. Rankinasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to make a statement on the decision of British European Airways Corporation to increase fares on their internal routes as from 1st April.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterWith my approval, British European Airways is increasing the fares on certain services within the United Kingdom as from 1st April. The increases, which vary in amount but are mostly between five and 15 per cent., are intended to reduce the substantial losses incurred by B.E.A. on internal services. The fares on these services remain, on average, some 30 per cent. below the level of those on the Corporation's international services.
§ Mr. RankinIs the Minister aware that this decision will press very hardly indeed on the island communities around Scotland, especially where there are families, and will tend to drive them back to the long surface routes? Is he not aware that this is a step towards the isolation out of which the air services were seeking to take these people?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI think that the hon. Member is concerned about the Islands and Highlands service. The basic single and 12-month return fares are not being increased. The increases on this traffic are confined to the cheaper monthly returns.