HC Deb 15 July 1964 vol 698 cc1185-6
20. Commander Courtney

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make arrangements for Royal Navy and Royal Air Force air stations, listed in the Air Pilot, other than military aerodromes engaged in special work, to be made available for the use of private and club aircraft at weekends.

Mr. H. Fraser

I regret that I am unable to extend the current arrangements for the use of service airfields by private civil aircraft.

Commander Courtney

Does everybody in the Royal Air Force go on leave at weekends? Is my right hon. Friend telling us that he has no Royal Air Force duty officers capable of aiming a red or green Aldis lamp at an incoming aircraft? Is he saying that he has no fire parties capable of going on the runway in case of need? Will he be slightly more imaginative and helpful? Will he look at this matter again?

Mr. Fraser

Every station commander must be responsible for the safety of aircraft landing on his field, and that means that full and due precautions must be taken and retaining over the weekend men whom I should like otherwise to send on leave. I am always ready to look at the question of specific airfields, but I must warn my hon. and gallant Friend that what he is proposing would be a large expense on the Defence Vote, which is already strained.

Commander Courtney

Does not my right hon. Friend make allowance for a fire in a hangar at weekends, and cannot the same men who would put out such a fire go on the runway in case of necessity?

Mr. Fraser

No. They have to be available for various duties on the airfield, and they must not be distracted from those duties.