§ Motion made, and Question proposed, That the Clause stand part of the Bill.
§ 3.51 p.m.
§ Mr. John Cronin (Loughborough)We have a remarkably short space of time in which to discuss the Clauses of a very important Bill, Sir William, but as we on this side of the Committee are anxious to co-operate in making as much progress as possible, I shall speak with brevity. I am sorry that urgent Parliamentary matters have prevented my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) from contributing his massive knowledge of these matters on this occasion.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary give further information about the member- 1778 ship of the organisation? At the moment, it is limited to six countries, but it is the kind of organisation that will obviously benefit its members very much more the more countries there are that join. The benefits will increase in a geometric progression with the membership. Are negotiations taking place to induce other countries to join, particularly those countries that are contiguous to the area covered by the organisation—Italy, Switzerland and Ireland?
Secondly, the Parliamentary Secretary promised on Second Reading that he would investigate the possibility of the House receiving an annual report of the activities of the organisation. We should be very glad if he could make a statement on that matter now.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aviation (Mr. C. M. Woodhouse)The number in the organisation is not in any sense limited. As a matter of fact, six seems to have become the standard number for European organisations to start with, but we hope, of course, that it will expand. The reason for this particular six is that they occupy the north-western European air space, where there is the greatest congestion of almost any part of the world.
The Italians were parties to the original negotiations, but withdrew because they thought that it would be very difficult to marry the requirements of civil arid military aviation. We believe that this problem can be overcome, and must be overcome, and we hope that, eventually, the Italians will see us overcome them and like to join us.
All other countries are welcome to apply, but because admission of a new country requires a unanimous vote it would not be right for us, or any other country to canvass, so to speak, recruits. That is a matter for the organisation as a whole, and it is in touch with one or two other countries. The onus for application rests on the other countries, but we hope that they will come in, and that the publicity of this debate, and similar debates in other countries will help to attract them.
The hon. Member for Loughborough (Mr. Cronin) also referred to accountability to Parliament. My right hon. Friend has asked me to assure the House 1779 on this subject. The House will have the Annual Estimates, which can be debated, in which the moneys due to Eurocontrol will figure. Hon. Members will be able to put Parliamentary Questions to my right hon. Friend on the actions of his representatives on the Council, and we are promoting the idea of an annual report being published by the organisation which could be deposited in the Library for the Information of the House, as is the custom with other international organisations. I hope that those undertakings will reassure the hon. Gentleman.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.