HC Deb 05 June 1957 vol 571 cc1252-3
26. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware of the regret existing in South America and those who trade with it at the absence of British air services; and whether he will indicate when aircraft will be provided for the resumption of British Overseas Airways Corporation's operations on this route.

Mr. Watkinson

I hope there are many who, like myself, want to see British air services to every part of the world, including South America. But as I have explained to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd), there are good reasons why I cannot yet forecast when B.O.A.C. will be able to resume operations on this route.

Mr. Woodburn

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, during this present period when economically we are not perhaps in a position to do much trade with South America because of other priorities, it is important that this connection should be kept, and that this is one of the ways by which it would seem practicable to make our friends in South America realise that Britain is still interested in that enormous and great country?

Mr. Watkinson

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman would like to know that, in reply to an earlier Question which has not been asked orally. I would have said that B.O.A.C. is sending a survey team of seven people to South America this month to survey market conditions and the possibilities of restarting the service.

Air Commodore Harvey

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that a national company like B.O.A.C., which has a monopoly on all the trunk routes of Britain, has an obligation to give some sort of service? Would he say that if the Corporation fails to give that service, it should be open to somebody else to do so?

Mr. Watkinson

The service is open to anybody now, because it is not being run by any company. Therefore, it is open to any company to ask permission.

Mr. Beswick

Can the Minister tell us what is the object of the market survey, because, as a matter of fact, the Corporation has had offices in that continent throughout the period in which the service has been terminated? Were we not given to understand before that this was entirely a matter of the availability of aircraft, and can he now say whether there is any possibility of a suitable aircraft coming along in the foreseeable future?

Mr. Watkinson

I think the hon. Gentleman knows that the long-range Britannia was ordered for this purpose, as well as for the North Atlantic. Therefore, it seems to be an appropriate time for the Corporation to send out one or two of its, experts to have a look at the market in the light of present conditions.