§ Q4. Mr. Martenasked the Prime Minister if he will transfer the aviation functions of the Board of Trade to the Ministry of Technology.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Mr. MartenIs not the Prime Minister aware that the splitting up of this Ministry is giving rise to delays in decision on the ordering of aircraft?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir, there is no evidence to justify that. There were very long delays in the ordering of aircraft when the Ministry of Aviation was responsible both for the aviation operations of the airlines and for the aviation industry. To judge from some of the decisions taken, it might well have been better if the delays had been even longer.
§ Mr. Brian ParkynAs the Ministry of Technology now has greatly increased areas of interest, a policy which many of us strongly support, does my right hon. Friend agree that it would be worth while publishing a Paper indicating clearly what the terms of reference of the Minister of Technology are?
§ The Prime MinisterI thought that this was well understood. My hon. Friend will recognise that it can do nothing but good for the aviation manufacturing industry that it should now come under a Department with wider responsibilities, as this means that aviation firms will have a chance to share in research and development work going beyond normal aviation responsibilities.
§ Mr. R. CarrIs not the Prime Minister aware of the inordinately long delay over a decision about London's third airport? If this is not due to the splitting of Departmental responsibilities under the Board of Trade, what is the reason?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is in no sense due to that, because this is a matter for exactly the same officials, who are now transferred to a different Department, and for the Ministers concerned. It has 299 been a very difficult question. It took the previous Government a very long time to come to any view about it, and I do not apologise for the fact that we have been taking our time over it. When we can make an announcement, we shall do so.