§ 10. Mr. de Freitasasked the Secretary of State for Air what plans he has for increasing the use of air-freight for transporting the heavy luggage of service families trooped by air to the Far East.
§ The Secretary of State for Air (Mr. George Ward)We are at present examining, with the other two Services, the possibility of sending as air freight, some of the luggage which cannot accompany the families.
§ Mr. de FreitasIs it not rather silly to take the families out to the Far East very quickly when they have to wait for weeks and sometimes months for their baggage to catch up with them? Surely in the Minister's examination he should consider using slow air freight for some of the heavy baggage?
§ Mr. WardFamilies travelling by air are already allowed to take with them rather more than one can take as a first-class passenger on a civil air line. I nevertheless agree with the hon. Member that we should examine—and we are examining—whether more cannot be done in the way of freight.