§ 20. Sir W. Anstruther-Grayasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that during the last twelve months there have been several occasions on which aeroplanes, booked for Turnhouse, but delayed en route, have been refused permission to land after 10 p.m. because of lack of staff, and that they have, instead, been diverted to Prestwick or Renfrew to the great inconvenience of passengers; and what steps he is taking to make it possible for aircraft to land at Turnhouse after 10 p.m.
§ Mr. HayYes, Sir. Since 1st January, 1958, four aircraft have been diverted from Turnhouse because they would have arrived after the normal hours of operation. I have consulted my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Air, and while unfortunately no immediate improvement is practicable, the possibility of the airport being taken over by my Department is being examined as a matter of urgency.
§ Sir W. Anstruther-GrayWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that encouraging reply, may I ask him to bear in mind that the proposal for taking over the aerodrome by his Department is undoubtedly a right solution to this problem? Will he press it forward vigorously?
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the hon. Gentleman aware that 10 o'clock at night gives a margin of only about half an hour for the arrival of the main evening plane from London, and it has struck Scottish people as being quite fantastic that in a major airport of this kind the regulations mean that after 10 o'clock aircraft cannot land. I hope that in the interregnum the hon. Gentleman will make arrangements with his right hon. Friend so that the Air Force will see that this place is properly staffed.
§ Mr. HayThese difficulties arise because we have to share with the Royal Air Force, but it is fair to say that the Royal Air Force has often been most helpful in providing staff long after 10 o'clock at night and every effort is made to see that the inconvenience is minimised. We shall get on with the job as quickly as we can.
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the hon. Gentleman aware that it has struck people as rather unusual that the Air Force should watch so strictly the time schedules? We never understood that the Armed Forces had an eight-hour day and five-day week to that extent.
§ Mt HayI think it is right to say in their defence that frequently they work considerably after 10 o'clock at night. Since 22nd September the airport has remained open after 10 o'clock on thirteen occasions to serve civilian traffic.