HC Deb 10 June 1959 vol 606 cc980-1
40. Mr. Beswick

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent he now expects to meet the recommendation of the Select Committee on Estimates in Session 1955–56 that trading accounts be produced for his Department's aerodromes; when he expects to make such information available; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hay

Accounts for the year 1958–59 are in course of preparation which will show separately the trading results of the Ministry's three principal aerodromes and a consolidated figure for the others. It is hoped that these accounts will be submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor-General in the early autumn.

Mr. Beswick

Can the Joint Parliamentary Secretary say that the information given in these accounts goes all the way to meet the recommendations of the Select Committee?

Mr. Hay

I think I can say that we are going as far as possible to meet the request made by the Committee.

41. Mr. Beswick

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in view of the technical developments in the operation of aerodromes since the war, and of the increasing tendency to administer them on a commercial basis, he is satisfied that the present managerial structure and general policy on personnel recruitment and promotion is best suited to present needs; and if he will consider the appointment of an appropriate independent committee to study and make recommendations on these matters.

Mr. Hay

My right hon. Friend considers that there is scope for variety in this matter. Wherever it seems appropriate, he is encouraging local authorities to take over the management of local aerodromes. In other cases where it seems best that aerodromes remain under State control, his policy is to keep the managerial and staffing structure under constant review and to adapt it to the changing needs, including the commercial needs, of the current situation. He sees no difficulty in achieving this policy within the existing departmental framework. The answer to the last part of the Question is, therefore, "No, Sir".

Mr. Beswick

Is the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied that the changes which have taken place so far have met the changed character and size of the problem of administering an airport like London Airport? As an illustration of the sort of thing I have in mind, may I ask whether he is satisfied that technical people recruited for, say, air traffic control, can under the present set-up, work their way through to the top? Or is the position that executive heads come only from the Ministry?

Mr. Hay

I think that the arrangement, which is admittedly to some extent experimental, is working extremely well. In these days it is not easy to manage these enormous complexes which ate modern airports, but I think that we are having some degree of success. As I said in my Answer, we shall have to be guided by our experience.