§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, I beg to ask the Government the following question, of which I have given private notice: Whether any decision has been come to regarding the arrangements to be made to ensure that the requirements of Northern Ireland in regard to civil aviation matters will be met.
§ THE MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION (LORD WINSTER)My Lords, I recently visited Belfast to confer with Sir Rowland Nugent, the Minister of Commerce, on matters affecting civil aviation in Northern Ireland, in order to decide how her interests and needs in regard to air services could best be met. As a result of these discussions, and in agreement with Sir Rowland Nugent and the Chairman Designate of the future British European Corporation, Sir Harold Hartley, it has been decided, when the Civil Aviation Bill becomes law, to establish a Northern Ireland Advisory Committee, which will be appointed under the terms of Clause 3 of the Bill.
After consultation with the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Commerce for Northern Ireland I also propose, again with the full agreement of Sir Harold Hartley, that the Chairmen of the Advisory Committees for Scotland and Northern Ireland should be appointed to seats on the British European Corporation. I will take this opportunity of adding that it is my intention that Northern Ireland shall be given air services and aerodrome facilities in every way commensurate with the needs of her business community and of her travelling public. Her geographical position renders such services of vital importance to Northern Ireland and, indeed, to ourselves.