§ 21. Mr. Straussasked the Minister of Aviation whether, in view of the change in the prospects of world civil aviation since the passing of the Civil Aviation Licensing Act, 1960, he will introduce amending legislation prohibiting the Air Transport Licensing Board from granting licences to applicants for permission to operate on routes already covered by British European Airways and British Overseas Airways Corporation.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftNo, Sir.
§ Mr. StraussIs the Minister aware that the recent decision by the Board is stated by the Board to be on the assumption that competition must sooner or later become a feature of the routes over which British aviation operates? Is he further aware that under the terms of the Act the Board is not entitled to make this assumption? Nor was this argument ever advanced by the Minister of Aviation during the passage of the Bill through the House. Is not the Board's recent verdict based entirely on an unwarranted premise?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe Civil Aviation Licensing Act, 1960, is only just beginning to come into operation in conditions of certain controversy on all sides. I think that we should allow it to operate a little before we start to amend it.
§ Mr. StraussWill the Minister be good enough to answer my question about the basis on which the Board made its recent decision and which it stated to be the basis, which has nothing to do with the Act or anything that the Minister said during the passage of the Bill through the House?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe hon Gentleman's Question asks me whether I will introduce amending legislation. The answer is, "No, Sir".
§ 26. Mr. Straussasked the Minister of Aviation whether, in order to reduce the financial losses which British European Airways will have to bear as a result of the diversion of its traffic to private operators, he will relieve the Corporation of the payment of all fees normally chargeable in the airports under his control.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftNo, Sir.
§ Mr. StraussIn view of the Government's recent decision to give every nationalised industry a target profit figure, can he tell us how he proposes to deal with the very substantial losses which are bound to accrue to B.E.A. as a result of the recent decisions of the Licensing Board? What alternative means has he in mind?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftEven if I were satisfied, which I am not, that a sharing of the future expansion of traffic would or could be said to involve B.E.A. 919 in a loss, on which I do not want to express a view because it might be the subject of an appeal or be used in argument in an appeal, I am satisfied that doing away with landing fees would be a wholly inappropriate way of dealing with it.
§ Mr. StraussHas the Minister any alternative suggestions, in view of the certainty that some substantial losses will accrue?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftAs I have sought to show, I regard the whole question as hypothetical.
§ 27. Mr. H. Hyndasked the Minister of Aviation what appeal has been made by British European Airways against the decision of the Air Transport Licensing Board to grant licences to private companies to operate services on routes now being profitably operated by British European Airways.
§ 16 and 17. Mr. Charles A. Howellasked the Minister of Aviation (1) what appeal has been received from British European Airways against the decision of the Air Transport Licensing Board to grant a licence to British United Airways to operate a service between Great Britain and Paris;
§ (2) what appeal he has received from British European Airways against the decision of the Air Transport Licensing Board to grant a licence to British United Airways to operate a service between Great Britain and Amsterdam.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftNone. Sir.
§ Mr. HyndAs it is understood that an appeal is coming along, will the Minister bear in mind the possible disastrous effects on B.E.A. of the granting of these new licences to other companies?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI have not received an appeal, and even if I had it would be quite inappropriate for me to express a view about it.