HC Deb 06 July 1966 vol 731 cc405-6
7. Mr. Henry Clark

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will institute an inquiry into the partial breakdown in internal air services during the month of June; and if he will give further consideration to the policy of depending mainly on one airline and one type of aircraft.

8. Mr. Stainton

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he is aware that British European Airways has for several successive days cancelled flights because aircraft are not airworthy; and whether he will issue a general direction, in the public interest, to British European Airways to re-equip its fleet.

Mr. Mulley

No direction or inquiry is called for. The technical difficulties which have unfortunately interfered with the regularity and punctuality of some of B.E.A.'s domestic services in recent weeks were of a temporary nature and do not indicate any basic inadequacies in B.E..A.'s equipment or organisation.

Mr. Clark

Is not that answer complacent in the extreme, and does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the coincidence of a crisis in engine maintenance with the beginning of the tourist season and at the time of the seamen's strike is prima facie evidence of mismanagement in B.E.A., and that this has been confirmed in the last two days by the evidence of very low morale among B.E.A. staff? Will the Minister institute an inquiry?

Mr. Mulley

On the first point, my statement was factual. It was due to deficiency of engines and engine parts, and the responsibility for that rests not with the airline but with those who ought to have supplied them. On the second point, as the hon. Gentleman may have seen from the Press, B.E.A. itself has set up an inquiry into its form of organisation. At this stage, therefore, I do not think that there is need for a further one.

Mr. Lipton

Do not these questions and answers show that all is not well with B.E.A.? What action will my right hon. Friend take when the petition signed by over 400 B.E.A. pilots reaches him?

Mr. Mulley

I have read in the Press that a petition is to be sent to me, but I have not so far received it. It would be irresponsible in the extreme to comment on a petition which one had not seen. I must stress that the management and running of the airlines is the responsibility of the boards and, until such time as it seems that they are not able to discharge that function, a Minister should not rush in and interfere.

Mr. R. Carr

But is it not a fact that very large numbers of passengers have been and still are suffering serious inconvenience? The Minister used the word "temporary". Should not he find out how temporary is temporary?

Mr. Mulley

The right hon. Gentleman might have credited me with the fact that on the very day that the first inconvenience was caused I made inquiries. I have gone fully into the reasons for it and the predicted end of the troubles. B.E.A. expect that these engineering problems and failure of supplies should end very shortly.