HC Deb 15 December 1958 vol 597 cc750-1
25. Mr. Willey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what recent representations have been made by the British Embassy at Moscow about the proposed air services between Moscow and London; and if he will make a further statement.

Mr. Profumo

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation said on 19th November, the introduction of a service depends on a solution of the noise problem. It had been hoped that as a result of an invitation extended by the Chairman of British European Airways, and supported by Her Majesty's Ambassador in Moscow, it would be possible for the Chairman of the Soviet airline to come to London for discussions on this problem and also for a demonstration of the noise-reducing techniques worked out for the TU. 104. I have now learned that, unfortunately, it will not be possible for Marshal Zhigarev to pay a visit at present.

Mr. Willey

As these negotiations seem to have become deadlocked and meanwhile we are losing the traffic to Brussels and Paris, will the hon. Gentleman see that the good offices of the Foreign Office are used to try to break the deadlock?

Mr. Profumo

These are technical matters, and it would be wise to leave them to the technicians to solve.