§ 4.6 p.m.
§ LORD BILSLANDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the following Question of which I have given private notice—namely, whether His Majesty's Government have any statement to make arising out of the Report made on Prestwick Airport to the Scottish Council by a Committee under the Chairmanship of Lord Clydesmuir?
THE MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION (LORD PAKENHAM)My Lords, I am obliged to the noble Lord for giving me an opportunity of making a statement on this important matter. The Scottish Council (Development and Industry), which is so ably presided over by the noble Lord, Lord Bilsland, has by courtesy shown me the Report on Prestwick Airport made to them by a Committee under the noble Lord, Lord Clydesmuir. I understand that this Report is being published by the Scottish Council to-day. I have examined the Report, with my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, and on behalf of His Majesty's Government I should like to express our great appreciation of the thorough way in which the Committee have attacked their subject, technically difficult as it is at best, and heavily overlaid with past controversy. I am grateful for the conspicuous fairness which the Committee have shown in their recommendations, and I should like, if this is in order, to congratulate the Scottish Council on the service rendered by their Committee.
The first two recommendations of the Report are that it would not be justifiable to have a flying boat base as an integral part of the airport, and that the alignment of runways and proposed site of the new airport buildings selected by my Department are the most suitable. These recommendations we accept without question, and, in passing, I should like to add a word of appreciation for the Scottish 352 Aerodromes Board, to whom my Ministry and the Committee under the noble Lord owe much in reaching this decision on the general pattern of the Airport. The fourth and fifth recommendations contain the Committee's most important findings, and may perhaps be considered together. We accept the suggestion that the main runway should be extended, and that it should then remain the principal runway, the projected new runway becoming a subsidiary. But the recommendation that an extension of 900 ft. to the main run-way, making a total of 7,500 ft., would be required to enable the largest Atlantic airliners to take off at full load requires careful examination, and I trust that your Lordships will bear with me for a few minutes while I deal briefly with the technicalities of this recommendation.
We should bear in mind that the present main runway nominally has a length of 6,600 ft. at the moment, but in practice, in certain conditions, the effective length is reduced. The maximum permitted all-up weight of the Stratocruiser was increased from 142,500 lb. to 145,800 lb. on June 26 last—that is to say, during the actual deliberations of the Committee. The length of runway required for the aircraft at that weight is a matter dependent on full technical tests, and I would stress that these have only just been completed. The results of the tests have been discussed technically between British Overseas Airways Corporation and my Ministry, and both agree that a usable runway length of 7,000 or 7,100 ft. is enough to enable the existing main runway to be used on 85 per cent. of occasions for Stratocruisers taking off under full load. On 10 per cent. of occasions the crosswind component at Prestwick is too great to enable the main runway to be used, so that the additional 400 or 500 ft. above this length recommended by the Committee would affect the use of the runway on only about 5 per cent. of occasions, even when the Stratocruiser is loaded to maximum all-up weight, which is by no means always the case.
I intend therefore to take the following steps, which I will place under three headings. First, the main runway will be extended as soon as possible towards the West by approximately 400 ft., that is to say as near as possible to the main Ayr—Kilmarnock Road, and the part of the present boundary wall between the 353 road and the line of the runway will be pulled down. This will at once give a usable length of 7,000 ft. for take-off to the East, the direction used on 38 per cent. of occasions.
Secondly, the main Ayr—Kilmarnock road will be diverted. The exact extent of the diversion will require consideration, but in any event, given the necessary "consents" (to use the technical term) it will be sufficient to allow room for a 1,000 ft. overrun, with 500 ft. to spare. I stress the next point deliberately. This will permit of a 7,500 ft. runway if this proves to be required.
Thirdly, the existing undulation in the main runway will be removed to afford the Stratocruiser an improved take-off; at present, of course, it constitutes a defect. This work will have to wait until the summer when conditions permit the use of half the width of the runway at a time. I have already given instructions for the extension of the runway to be put in hand, and for the diversion of the road to be discussed with the competent authorities. No financial obstacles will stand in the way of the work's being completed as fast as is compatible with the physical and legal processes involved. Work has already started on levelling the wall between the road and the runway.
In their sixth recommendation the Committee make certain suggestions on the length of the proposed new runway, now to become the subsidiary runway. This whole question again requires careful study, especially in view of the changed role of this runway. The essence of a subsidiary runway is to take care of the occasions when a strong crosswind component renders the main runway unusable, and if the runways are correctly placed in relation to each other, the very conditions which bring a subsidiary runway into use are also those which limit the length required of the runway itself.
The Committee's seventh and eighth recommendations, on safeguarding the approaches, and on the problem of subsidence, are being closely studied in the Department with the other bodies concerned. In effect these recommendations cover the normal practice of the Ministry, but a re-examination is being made in the light of the Committee's proposals. The safeguarding plan already provides for a new runway of 7,000 ft., and the 354 possible changes necessary if the runway had to be extended are being studied. The safeguarding plan for the existing main runway, taken in conjunction with the characteristics of the terrain, provides enough elbow room for any extension likely to be required, and we feel no apprehension on that score.
In their ninth recommendation the Committee stress the need for feeder services; but in the body of their Report they go further than this and recommend, in effect, that the existing Renfrew services should be transferred to Prestwick, which would thenceforward take the place of Renfrew as the airport for Glasgow. As your Lordships are doubtless aware, a certain number of feeder services between Prestwick and other centres have been approved by myself after consideration by the Air Transport Advisory Council, over which the noble Lord, Lord Terrington, presides so wisely. I am bound to say that, up to the present, agreement has not been reached with the company concerned about conditions of operation. I can only hope that the company will find itself able to operate as many of them as possible. The larger point of the transfer from Renfrew to Prestwick raises a major issue directly concerned with the management of the British European Airways Corporation. Needless to say, I have drawn the attention of the Chairman of the Corporation, Lord Douglas of Kirtleside, to this recommendation, but I feel sound to point out that the Corporation, with full knowledge of the characteristics of both aerodromes, and of the traffic potential in the West of Scotland, have had no hesitation in choosing Renfrew as the most appropriate terminus for their Scottish services. I have complete confidence in the commercial judgment of the Corporation on this issue.
We have noted the views put forward in the two final recommendations. In the event of arrangements being arrived at whereby local authorities might own and operate aerodromes needed for scheduled air services, their application to Prestwick Airport would, of course, be considered. The detailed points concerning the terminal buildings and the transport arrangements are receiving careful departmental examination. May I end by repeating my thanks to the noble Lord, Lord Bilsland, and to the Scottish Council, for initiating and to the noble Lord, Lord Clydesmuir, 355 and his colleagues for producing, this most valuable Report? It should play a conspicuous part in ending the controversies associated with Prestwick, and in enabling that fine airport to become what nature—and, may I say, His Majesty's Government—have always intended: a source of pride to Scotland and an object of admiration to the rest of the world.
§ 4.17 p.m.
§ LORD BILSLANDMy Lords, in thanking the noble Lord for the consideration given to this Report and for the statement he has made, may I ask him to bear in mind that the length of the main runway which he proposes to adopt is less than that recommended by the Committee, and provides a comparatively low percentage of usability? I also ask the noble Lord to bear in mind that the recommendation of the Committee on this matter was based mainly on evidence received from foreign airlines, and that more transatlantic companies operate through Prestwick than through any other airport in the United Kingdom. May I also ask the noble Lord to consider that the necessary road diversion should be carried as close to the railway as recognised safety margins permit, to make possible any extension of the runway in future? I further ask him whether the subsidiary roadway will be provided as soon as possible, as any postponement of it, as the Report has shown, would be incompatible with the policy that Prestwick should be an international airport for transatlantic traffic, and also as Prestwick has great strategic value.
I would ask the noble Lord, in fixing the length of the subsidiary runway, to bear in mind the recommendation of the Committee on this matter, having regard also to the possibility of the main runway being closed for repair or otherwise, and the great importance of having an adequate subsidiary runway in these circumstances. And may I thank the noble Lord for the approval given for additional feeder services between Prestwick and other centres, and express the hope that they can in fact be operated within a reasonable time? Finally, I thank the noble Lord for the references he made to the Scottish Council and for his appreciation of the work of the noble Lord, Lord Clydesmuir—appreciation which will be very widely shared.
LORD CLYDESMUIRMy Lords, may I thank the noble Lord for what he has said and for his kindly words about the work of the Committee? Perhaps I may be allowed to echo the words of my noble friend Lord Bilsland as to the anxiety felt about the decision not to lengthen the main runway immediately. I take it that that matter will be kept open and, if found necessary, provision will be made to enlarge the runway. I would also stress the need for speed in anything which is done in regard to this airfield.
§ 4.20 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT SWINTONMy Lords, I will not follow my noble friends into any detailed consideration of this interesting Report, but I should like to put this point to the Minister. Since this Committee sat, the considerations of defence have occupied the graver and the more urgent position in all our minds. Whatever may be the value—I have no doubt it is great—of this airport as a transoceanic port, there can be no possible question, I submit, that in the event of another disaster such as the last war, this airport would be absolutely indispensable. I would therefore suggest that considerations of defence reinforce the need that the runway should be adequate to take the largest Service aeroplanes as well as civil planes. Those considerations also certainly enhance the need for proceeding with the work as rapidly as possible, as I gather the Minister himself desires.
LORD PAKENHAMMy Lords, I know that the House will not wish me to involve your Lordships in any debate at this stage. I can assure those who have spoken that all that they have said will be carefully considered. I agree with what the noble Lord, Lord Clydesmuir, said—as indeed I said in my own opening remarks—that, if it is proved that a longer runway than 7,100 feet is required, we will take steps that will make it possible in the event.