§ 2.35 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government if they are aware that parents living in Commonwealth countries with children at school in England are forced, by infrequent leave and high air fares, to endure long periods of absence from their children, and that this hardship would be considerably alleviated by the introduction of very low air fares as now proposed by certain independent air lines.]
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, my right honourable friend, the Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation, is advised by the Air Transport Advisory Council on applications by independent air lines to operate scheduled services. He is now shortly expecting the Council's recommendations on certain low fare proposals for services between the United Kingdom and British Colonial territories. I have no doubt that such points as those made by the noble Lord were laid before the Council when these applications were heard. I can assure your Lordships that in considering the Council's recommendations my right honourable friend will give 274 due weight to all the arguments put forward in favour of these proposals, including those advanced by the noble Lord.
LORD GRENFELLMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl very much for what I hope will prove to be a satisfactory answer.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, would the Government also bear in mind that it is no good taking off the cream from this type of business and leaving the air Corporations with the skimmed milk?
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, in considering these matters, would Her Majesty's Government bear in mind that air travellers fall into two classes, the first of whose fares are deductible against tax and the second who have to pay for their fares out of taxed income, and that the low fares envisaged here would be most valuable to the second class?
§ LORD WINSTERMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether it is not the case that B.O.A.C. and other air lines would wish to reduce the fares on some of the International services but are prevented from doing so by decisions of I.A.T.A.? B.O.A.C. is actually anxious to reduce some of the fares.