HC Deb 04 February 1959 vol 599 cc382-4
19. Mr. John Hall

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that attempts are being made to prohibit the use of British navigational aids in aircraft and ships using airfields and ports outside the United Kingdom; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the most efficient navigational aids may continue to be used.

Mr. Watkinson

Where British navigational aids are the best, we take every available opportunity to prove their merits and advocate their adoption. Recently special Comet flights have demonstrated the Decca air navigation system at London and Paris. These will be repeated at New York and at Montreal, where our delegation will strongly advocate its adoption as an international standard short-range air navigation aid at the forthcoming I.C.A.O. Conference.

Mr. Hall

Is it a fact that, despite whatever decision may be taken at the International Civil Aviation Organisation Conference, the Americans may insist upon the use of their own system of navigational aids throughout the United States? If that is so, will not that result indirectly in prohibiting the use by British and other airlines of the British system in their planes, although it is both safer in operation and cheaper to install? If this is correct, is not this an example of the worst kind of pressure tactics which is likely to do considerable harm to Anglo-American relations?

Mr. Watkinson

I think that the British delegation will go to Montreal ready to set out quite clearly what we believe to be the very great technical advantages of this system. I very much hope that the decision will rest on the technical merits and not on any other consideration.

27. Mr. P. Williams

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what action he is taking, other than at the forthcoming International Civil Aviation Organisation Conference in Montreal, to promote world-wide acceptance of the Decca-Dectra navigation system.

Mr. Watkinson

Members of I.C.A.O., and the international airline and pilots' associations, have been told that the U.K. will advocate the adoption of Decca at the Montreal Conference as the standard short-range air navigational aid. The reasons why this is the best choice have been explained widely on all available occasions. A Comet 2E has demonstrated Decca at London and Paris, and will do so at New York and Montreal. Dectra is a long-range system still being evaluated, but recent trials over the North Atlantic have been most promising and have gained much international interest.

Mr. Williams

I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer, but is he aware of reports in all sections of the Press exposing American action in the way that they are trying to suborn the allegiance of other national airlines and prevent the British system, which is better, cheaper and more efficient, from being adopted at the conference, and what action is he taking to try to prevent this American subterfuge?

Mr. Watkinson

I think that first we had better have the conference. As I said in a previous Answer, our team will go there ready to set out quite fairly and factually what we believe to be the undoubted technical advantages of this method. No doubt the Americans and others will put the counter-case. All I am saying at the moment is that we certainly expect that decisions will be taken purely on the proper technical grounds. If they are not, that is another matter which we shall be prepared to look at again.

Mr. Farey-Jones

Pending the result of the conference, will my right hon. Friend give an undertaking that at least British and Commonwealth airlines will not be compelled to accept a completely inferior system?

Mr. Watkinson

After the conference there will have to be further discussions, but pending it no final decision can be taken.