HC Deb 23 November 1955 vol 546 cc1450-2
18. Mr. Janner

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that passengers on the K.L.M.

aeroplane from Amsterdam on 12th October, which was diverted from London to Blackbushe Airport owing to fog, were locked in the aeroplane for 1½ hours after landing and kept waiting in a corridor for a further 1½ hours before being cleared by Customs; and if he will arrange for Customs staff to be readily available for emergencies at Blackbushe Airport during the autumn and winter months.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I very much regret the delay and inconvenience to the passengers in this aircraft caused by the extremely heavy load on the modest facilities at Blackbushe. Since the passenger building was crowded to its capacity when the aircraft arrived, I understand that the operator decided that the passengers would be more comfortable in the aircraft, where they remained for exactly half an hour and not for 1½ hours as stated by the hon. Member.

When the passengers had disembarked a further delay occurred because the unloaders received incorrect information from the crew of the aircraft as to the particular hold in which the baggage had been stored, and consequently the freight was unloaded first. The delay in clearing Customs was due not to shortage of Customs Officers, but to lack of space in the Customs Hall. Normally, Blackbushe deals with about 300 passengers a day: on this occasion the number dealt with was eight times as many.

Mr. Janner

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a similar delay occured on 1st November at Bovingdon Airport, when only one immigration officer was present—[HON. MEMBERS: "Get the facts right."] I want the facts to be correct. [HON. MEMBERS: "The other facts were not correct."]—to deal with 80 passengers from several aircraft that arrived? Does the Minister not think that a proper skeleton staff should be kept at these places so that passengers can be properly dealt with and our reputation in air travel not impaired?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I hope the hon. Member will forgive me if on a supplementary question to a Question about Blackbushe I do not attempt to give him details about Bovingdon. I would, however, add that the provision of immigration staff is a matter not for me but for my right hon. and gallant Friend the Home Secretary.

Mr. G. R. Strauss

Is the Minister satisfied that at these emergency airports there is sufficient staff to deal with an emergency which is likely to arise? While nobody wants to have an inflated and entirely unnecessary staff at these places, it is essential to have a staff there which does not involve a delay of hours on occasions when emergency does arise.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

It is very much a question of balance. I think that the right hon. Member would agree that it would be grossly extravagant to provide throughout the year large staffs for airfields that may have a rush on them, owing to weather conditions, only a couple of times a year. It is very much a question of balance.