§ 18. Mr. J. Hyndasked the Minister of Aviation what progress he has made in his investigation of the delays in clearing passengers from inward flights at London Airport; and what consideration he has given to proposed remedies and, in particular, to those suggested in a letter to him by the hon. Member for Attercliffe.
§ Mr. SandysLast week I informed the House of the measures which were being taken to relieve congestion. I have not yet received the hon. Member's letter, but I am eagerly awaiting it.
§ Mr. HyndI am sorry that the Minister has not yet received my letter. The Question asks what is being done about clearing passengers. This case has no particular relation to congestion on the ground. Is the Minister aware that on Sunday of last week an aeroplane arrived from Frankfurt and the passengers had to wait an hour-and-a-half for the single bus before they were cleared? They had flown from Frankfurt in an hour and it was two-and-a-half hours before they reached Victoria from London Airport. Is it not possible for regular buses passing the airport to pick up the passengers or to use a minibus to take passengers to the buses at the Central Airport instead of all the passengers having to wait for an hour-and-a-half until Customs have cleared the last passenger from the aircraft?
§ Mr. SandysI am a little confused by the hon. Gentleman. He said that his Question did not relate to the clearing of passengers at the airport but referred to the question of transport away from the airport. Yet he referred to the question of clearing passengers from the Customs. I will await the hon. Gentleman's letter.