HC Deb 18 June 1958 vol 589 cc1103-6
19. Mr. Strauss

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will give instructions to remove the large advertisement panels along the upper part of the walls of Gatwick Airport's main hall.

Mr. Neave

No, Sir. They are a valuable source of revenue and were provided for in the architect's design.

Mr. Strauss

Would the Minister agree that with a fine hall of this sort, built as the reception hall of an airport and which architecturally is very fine, it is a great pity to have plastered the whole way round it advertisements for all sorts of things, of all sorts of colours, some of which match and some of which do not, and which give a vulgar tone to the whole hall? Surely nowadays one can limit advertisements to a few places where they do no æsthetic damage. It is shameful to allow advertisements to be placed all round the main hall in this fine new building.

Mr. Neave

This was part of the architect's original design, but I will look at the matter again. It may be possible to get advertisements more in keeping with the original intention of the architect.

29. Mr. Doughty

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many aeroplanes an hour can land and take off at Gatwick Airport in fine weather, and how this figure compares with the same facilities at Heathrow Airport.

Mr. Neave

The answer to the first part of the Question is 24, with mixed take-offs and landings, and to the second, 55 take-offs and landings in the same weather conditions.

Mr. Doughty

Does my hon. Friend say that the situations at Heathrow and Gatwick are approximately the same? Is not it a fact that there is a far slower take-off and landing rate at Gatwick than at London Airport?

Mr. Neave

No, Sir. I will give my hon. and learned Friend the exact details, but there is a considerable distinction in the total number of landings and take-offs between these two airports.

30. Mr. Doughty

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many airlines have notified him that they intend to utilise Gatwick Airport; and how many arrivals and departures of aeroplanes every 24 hours this will entail.

Mr. Neave

The answer to the first part of the Question is four airlines so far for regular use, and to the second part a maximum of about 150 movements per day this summer.

Mr. Doughty

Is it a fact that so far the indications are that Gatwick Airport is very much under-used? Does my hon. Friend anticipate that in future the traffic will increase, and if so, to what extent?

Mr. Neave

We expect the traffic to increase at Gatwick Airport. It will be a very profitable airport. Hon. Members who have seen it will, I think, agree that it is a very fine effort indeed. Entirely new services may probably go there from London Airport in the future.

Mr. Rankin

Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that Gatwick Airport embodies many of the hopes that we have for Prestwick Airport?

Mr. Neave

I shall be visiting Prestwick next week.

Mr. P. Williams

Is my hon. Friend satisfied with the radio aids installed at Gatwick, and can he say whether they are capable of giving a 24-hour service?

Mr. Neave

I should like notice of that Question, but, as far as I am aware, they are perfectly in order.

35. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consultation he has had with the British Transport Commission and the civil aviation corporations with a view to speeding up railway communication with Gatwick Airport; and what steps it is proposed to take to that end.

Mr. Watkinson

The present service was planned in full consultation with my Department and British European Airways. While it meets the present traffic needs of the airport, the British Transport Commission is at present looking into the possibility of providing more fast trains in the future, although improvements will be difficult on this already very busy line.

Mr. Davies

While thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that there are no non-stop express trains between Victoria and Gatwick Airport, that the minimum time taken is forty minutes and that many trains take longer? Therefore, some of the benefits of siting the airport where it is, with a new railway station, are lost.

Mr. Watkinson

This matter needs looking into again and the Commission is doing so.

Mr. P. Williams

Is my right hon. Friend aware that airlines other than B.E.A. operate from Gatwick?

Mr. Watkinson

I am aware that Transair and other companies operate from Gatwick, and we are glad they do so.

Mr. Woodburn

On the question of intending passengers entering London from the North and going to Gatwick, will the Minister say whether there will be an inter-airport means of communication such as a direct bus service, or must they go through this performance of going into the air terminal, and so on? It will be very irritating to passengers who have to come into London before proceeding to the Channel Islands and elsewhere.

Mr. Watkinson

That is another question, but in fact we are examining that problem.