§ 7. Mr. Rankinasked the Minister of Aviation if he will make available the evidence and argument on which he based his decision to reject the Air Transport Licensing Board's finding on the application by British Eagle for increased frequencies on the London-Scotland services.
§ Mr. AmeryThe evidence and argument, which was heard in public by the Appeal Commissioner, is available in my Ministry if the hon. Member wishes to consult it. The Appeal Commissioner's report has also been published and I am sending a copy to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. RankinBut that hardly answers the Question on the Order Paper. Is it not the case that the Air Transport Licensing Board gives very serious consideration to every application for operational rights at any airport and that these proceedings are held in public? When the Minister takes the very serious decision to reject a carefully considered applicatiton, why should he not make available to the public the reasons for his decision?
§ Mr. AmeryThe Question asked me whether I would make available the evidence and the argument. The evidence and the argument, taken overall, are extremely bulky, but if the hon. Gentleman wishes to come and see them I should be delighted if he would do so. The Appeal Commissioner's report is somewhat smaller, and this I would propose to send to him.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Rankin, Question No. 8.
§ Mr. RankinShut up. Question No. 8.
§ 8. Mr. Rankinasked the Minister of Aviation whether he will make it a condition of his acceptance of the recommendations of his Commissioner, in regard to British Eagle Airlines' application for increased frequencies on the London-Scotland service, that the service be operated from and to Prestwick Airport.
§ Mr. AmeryI am not sure whether the hon. Member's last remark was addressed to the Chair.
The Answer is, "No, Sir".
§ Mr. RankinOwing to the interruptions on the benches opposite. I did not hear the Answer.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe Answer was, "No, Sir".
§ Mr. RankinThank you, Mr. Speaker.
Is the Minister aware that Prestwick Airport is in a rather difficult situation? Is it not the case that he is doing his best to help it? Does not he realise that here is one way in which he can help it—by directing this service to operate from Prestwick? If the right hon. Gentleman has the power to say that it can operate from Renfrew, surely equally he has power to say that it could operate from Prestwick.
§ Mr. AmeryIf the hon. Gentleman is suggesting that Prestwick should become the normal domestic airport for Glasgow—
§ Mr. RankinNo.
§ Mr. Amery—that is an entirely separate question. British Eagle wishes to operate from Glasgow and therefore that is the operating point in respect of which it applied for a licence. It has been given a licence.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamIs my right hon. Friend aware that the public would appreciate a more frequent service on other routes by British Eagle? Will he do his best to make that possible?
§ Mr. AmeryI will certainly take into account what my hon. and learned Friend says, but that is a rather different question.
§ 10. Mr. Dempseyasked the Minister of Aviation what requirements he laid down, when approving the extension of British Eagle Airways services to Scotland, regarding the application of adequate safeguards for passengers against accident risk.
§ Mr. MartenThese services are subject to the same safety requirements as apply to other air transport services.
§ Mr. DempseyWhen the Parliamentary Secretary says "other air transport services", does he mean that we should demand for private operators the same standards as we insist on for our publicly-owned airlines? Is he aware of the growing uneasiness, especially in Scotland, at the accident rate among private operators? Will he give an assurance that the standards insisted on 442 will be similar to those demanded for B.E.A., for example?
§ Mr. MartenWe are here concerned with public transport aircraft, not private flying. A detailed and exacting code of safety regulations applies to all air transport operators in this country.