HC Deb 06 May 1959 vol 605 cc389-92
51. Mr. Beswick

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what was the reason which has been officially reported to him for the cancellation of the inaugural British Overseas Airways Corporation round-the-world jet flight; what representations he has since made to the United States authorities; and if he will make a statement.

The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. Harold Watkinson)

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Reading (Mr. Mikardo) on 15th April.

Subsequently, the Civil Aeronautics Board Examiner recommended that the public interest in the United States required that B.O.A.C. should not be allowed to include Tokyo in the route. This recommendation has been submitted to the Board whose own recommendation goes to the President for decision. Her Majesty's Government fully expect that the United States Government will stand by their obligations under their Air Services Agreement with us which they have confirmed gives B.O.A.C. the right to include Tokyo in the route.

Mr. Beswick

While thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that there is still some confusion in the matter, especially when a comparison is made between this problem and the action of the United Kingdom Government in refusing further landing rights to K.L.M. in Singapore? Will he taken an early opportunity to clarify the position? Further, is it the case that the Pan-American operations from Tokyo to Hong Kong are carried out under the rights conceded in the Bermuda Agreement? How can the Minister say that the B.O.A.C. application to operate to Tokyo can be refused if Pan-American continue to operate into Hong Kong?

Mr. Watkinson

Perhaps I should clear up those two points. First, dealing with the relationship between the B.O.A.C. position with the Americans and the K.L.M. position with Her Majesty's Government, I would point out that K.L.M. finished these negotiations with one terminating service to Singapore, which was a great gain for K.L.M. and something to which they were technically not entitled under their Air Services Agreement. What I have said this afternoon is that if the B.O.A.C. rights were refused the bilateral agreement negotiated between Her Majesty's Government and the United States Government would have been breached. The Pan-American position also falls under the agreement. If the agreement is breached, we shall naturally have to reconsider the whole position.