HC Deb 05 February 1964 vol 688 cc1133-4
5. Lord Balniel

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to British European Airways and British Overseas Airways Corporation to give special assistance to school leavers and graduate volunteers travelling to give voluntary service in overseas countries under the auspices of the Lockwood Committee on Overseas Service.

Mr. Marten

No, Sir, but I am drawing the attention of the two Corporations to my noble Friend's Question.

Lord Balniel

As we all expect a very dramatic increase in the number of volunteers serving overseas, will my hon. Friend take a very positive approach towards this in order to ensure that whenever empty seats are available they are offered to the voluntary organisations sending graduates and school leavers to help overseas?

Mr. Marten

Yes, Sir. I can assure my noble Friend that I have a great interest in this. I am a member of Voluntary Service Overseas and sit on the boards which interview boys who wish to go abroad. I have, therefore, a personal interest in the matter. I will certainly bring this to the attention of the Air Corporations, but we have, in fact, no power to direct them under the Air Corporations Act, 1949.