§ 37. Mr. Straussasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will state the number of charter flights, other than those authorised by the Air Transport Advisory Council, for holiday purposes in 1957, and the number of passengers carried by them; and whether, in order to avoid irregularities, he will consider referring any application by an organisation for two or more similar flights to the Advisory Council.
§ Mr. WatkinsonNo separate statistics are available of particular classes of charter flights, nor are United Kingdom operators required to obtain my permission for such flights.
§ Mr. StraussBut is the Minister aware that it is alleged that a number of travel agencies, who have had their applications for charter flights turned down by the A.T.A.C., in fact carry out those flights through some club which they either form themselves or with which they are associated, and that therefore the review of the A.T.A.C. is avoided? Will the Minister look into that point and consider some evidence which can be put before him to show that these irregularities are going on?
§ Mr. WatkinsonYes, Sir. If the right hon. Gentleman has some facts which he would like to give me, I will look at them with great care.