37. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has now received an application from the British Overseas Airways Coporation for his approval to air fares being charged on a differential basis as between jet and propeller driven aeroplanes in the future; and if he will make a further statement on the matter.
§ Mr. WatkinsonNo, Sir. On the second part of the Question, I am not yet in a position to add to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Robert Cooke) on 2nd April last, but my advisers are urgently examining this whole matter.
Mr. Gresham CookeWould my right hon. Friend agree that there are a number of ordinary people not travelling on business who do not want to use the super-speed or jet planes but who want facilities to go by air, and therefore there is a case for differentiation in the prices of jet travel as compared with ordinary air travel? If that is so, will he look at the matter sympathetically when it comes before him?
§ Mr. WatkinsonAs my right hon. Friend knows, there are widely differing views held on this matter. I think that this is a subject which should be thoroughly examined, because it is bound to be raised at the I.A.T.A. conference later this year, and that is what my Department is now doing.