§ 9. Mr. C. Johnsonasked the Minister of Aviation when the proposed census of air traffic over Great Britain and the surrounding waters will take place; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftFrom today until midnight on 10th December. I will, with the permission of the House, circulate an account of the objects and methods of the census in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. JohnsonCan the right hon. Member say how long it will be before the results of the census are known? Secondly, when they are known will they be published?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI should like to consider both those questions—but if there is some useful information which I can give to the House on this subject I shall be very happy to do so.
Following is the statement:The object of the census is to provide a factual record of the quantity and nature of civil traffic throughout our airspace and the information will be used for the planning of future air traffic control services. Special census cards have been issued to the owners of all British aircraft who have been asked to record the position, height and activity of their aircraft if it flies in United Kingdom airspace during the census period. Special arrangements have been made to give census cards to the crews of foreign aircraft who visit this country during census week. Information about traffic flying in controlled airspace and on other established civil routes will be obtained from the records kept by the Air Traffic Control Service.The census has the active support of those associations which represent the interests of aircraft owners and pilots, and I hope the individual owners will co-operate fully in this venture, the aim of which is to increase the safety of all users of United Kingdom airspace.It is expected that censuses of this kind will be held at approximately six-monthly intervals.