HC Deb 06 February 1957 vol 564 cc426-8
36. Mr. G. R. Strauss

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he is taking to meet the recommendations of the Select Committee on Estimates concerning the loss on the running of the airports.

Mr. Watkinson

My comments on the Select Committee's recommendations will be found in Appendix I to the First Special Report of the Committee. The most important recommendation was that landing fees should be increased. Because British aircraft pay landing fees abroad, unilateral action to increase charges might cause repercussions which would injure our interests and adversely affect our balance of payments. I have therefore preferred to wait for the report of the International Conference on Airport Charges, which I am now studying, before taking any steps to increase these fees. There will certainly have to be increases, but their pattern also needs full consideration so that they may not fall unfairly on any particular section of the air transport industry. I hope to announce a scheme soon.

Mr. Strauss

I am grateful to the Minister for saying that he has taken steps in this direction, but is he aware that the answers he has given up to now to the Select Committee on Estimates would appear to indicate that he has been treating that Select Committee in an extraordinarily off-hand way? Can he assure us that it is his policy to see that the large and efficient airports, on which a great deal of public money has been spent, will, as soon as possible, be made self-supporting, and not a burden on public funds?

Mr. Watkinson

I could not agree more with the right hon. Gentleman, but it is my duty to see that the safety of the service is maintained, and that I intend to do.

Mr. Beswick

Whilst disagreeing with some of the criticisms made by the Select Committee about the running of our airports, and especially with the misplaced criticism of the Permanent Under-Secretary's remark about going out and getting business, may I ask the Minister if he would not at the same time agree that the Select Committee's recommendation that there should be trading accounts should be looked into again very carefully; and would he give an assurance that the note which he proposes to append to his Estimates will be a very full one, and that the full trading accounts will be published as soon as possible?

Mr. Watkinson

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his words about the Permanent Under-Secretary of my Ministry, whose remarks, I think, were completely and unfairly misconstrued. With regard to trading accounts, I will certainly look into that, as I am most anxious to make this as commercial a transaction as possible.