§ 9. Mr. McMasterasked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made with the facilities needed at British airports to handle jumbo jets and other very large aircraft.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuI understand that the authorities concerned at the airports likely to be used by these aircraft are providing the facilities necessary to handle both the aircraft and the large numbers of passengers they will carry.
§ Mr. McMasterIs the Minister aware of the advantages of being able to operate directly from a number of different airports within a country? Will the Government make sure that all of our leading airports have the facilities which will allow them to fly direct to America?
§ Mr. MallalieuI think that to provide the facilities at all of our leading airports might prove too expensive. However, it will certainly be done at Heathrow, Prestwich and Manchester.
§ Mr. HirstIn considering these important factors, will the Minister also have in mind the question of noise, particularly at those airports which have been somewhat unhappily chosen, such as Leeds-Bradford, which are wrapped round by immensely densely populated areas?
§ Mr. MallalieuYes, Sir. Most certainly, but I have not heard any suggestion that the Leeds-Bradford airport should be chosen.
§ Mr. RankinIn view of the proposed extension of Abbotsinch, is there any reason why these facilities should not be available there?
§ Mr. MallalieuI would have thought that to do so would have been duplicating the facilities that will be available.
§ Mr. OnslowWill the Minister assure us that adequate emergency facilities will be available at main and diversionary airports, particularly bearing in mind what is needed when there are accidents involving heavy passenger loads, and look into the question of civil defence and the A.F.S. having a special rôle in this context?
§ Mr. MallalieuI will certainly consider whether the A.F.S. could play a part. I am certain that the airport authorities will be considering the question of diversionary airports.