HC Deb 15 March 1967 vol 743 cc488-9

5. Mr. Fortescue asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take the necessary steps to authorise independent British airlines to serve those routes on which the British Overseas Airways Corporation has had to suspend services this summer.

Mr. Jay

I understand that B.O.A.C. is not proposing to suspend services on any of its routes but is cancelling some flights on eight routes while aircraft are being modified.

Mr. Fortescue

Does the right hon. Gentleman's reply mean that he stands by the present policy that this lucrative trans-Atlantic service should be a monopoly of B.O.A.C. and should not be open in any way to independent airlines?

Mr. Jay

That is quite another question. The whole of this emergency programme has affected only about 0.3 per cent. of the total flying hours for which B.O.A.C. is responsible.

Mr. R. Carr

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the cancellation of no fewer than 96 flights will mean a substantial loss of business and, therefore, of foreign exchange earnings? Ought not this gap to be filled somehow by whatever temporary emergency measures can be found?

Mr. Jay

Ninety-six flights may sound a lot, but it is only 0.3 per cent. of total flying hours for a period of a few weeks.

Mr. Onslow

Will the President of the Board of Trade stop being so complacent about the fact that B.O.A.C. is turning away good business which should be coming to British airlines?

Mr. Jay

In so far as that is true—it is true only to a small extent—it is due to decisions taken by the Tory Government in 1963.