§ 9. Mr. Onslowasked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to stimulate the development of domestic air services.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe initiative for developing services rests primarily with the operators, but we shall be reviewing our policy in the light of the Edwards Committee report.
§ Mr. OnslowIs it not true that the one major barrier to the development of domestic air services is the absence of any co-ordinated airports policy?
§ Mr. RodgersNo, I do not think that that is the fundamental reason. The principal difficulty is the volume of traffic and the cost of operations. Routes in this country are short, and most are not profitable. Obviously, this is an obstacle to their development.
§ Sir A. V. HarveyWill the hon. Gentleman look into the monopoly services of B.E.A. between London and Manchester? This route is the Cinderella for equipment, bad time-keeping and the way in which passengers receive little consideration. Another service could operate, and then there would be really efficient service—and there is the traffic.
§ Mr. RodgersI note what the hon. Gentleman says, without necessarily accepting it. Decisions about dual designation depend on much larger factors, including whether there can be economic operation for more than one airline.