§ 6.25 p.m.
§ EARL FORTESCUEMy Lords, I beg to ask the question standing in the name of my noble friend Lord Rosebery.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government, whether Scottish representatives will be appointed as members of the board of the British European Airways Corporation, and the board of the British Overseas Airways Corporation.]
579§ THE MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION (LORD WINSTER)My Lords, the question of appointing members of the British European Airways Corporation will not arise until the Corporation can be established under the powers sought in the Civil Aviation Bill. I will give full and fair consideration to the important point raised by the noble Earl when those appointments have to be made. I will also, at the same time, have regard to the position in respect of the British Overseas Airways Corporation when determining what are the most suitable arrangements for relating the functions of the two Corporations. The noble Earl will, I know, appreciate that I can make no announcement of the nature he desires until legislation has been passed and that in any case my overriding consideration must be to make appointments with a view to the most efficient conduct of our air 580 services and not out of consideration for particular interests.