§ 50. Mr. F. Beswickasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation on what terms the British Overseas Airways Corporation are assisting Ghana to establish her national civil airline; whether this agreement has received his approval; what traffic rights will be granted this company to operate into the United Kingdom; and to what extent he now proposes to limit the additional rights recently granted to an independent British company to operate scheduled passenger services to Ghana.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe arrangements under which B.O.A.C. will participate in the formation and development of the Ghana airline are at present being negotiated. They are naturally confidential but I approve their general lines and when they are completed I should be quite willing to make a statement in agreement with the Government of Ghana.
§ Mr. BeswickIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that if, as appears inevitable, Ghana will want its own national airline, we can be gratified that it will be our Corporations that will help it along? Would he answer the second part of my Question and say to what extent he will reconsider his decision to divide the traffic between this country and Ghana, between the Corporations and an independent airline?
§ Mr. WatkinsonThese are two quite different services between this country and Ghana; one goes round the coast and another across the desert. I do not think I should say more while the negotiations are taking place at this moment.