HL Deb 04 April 1960 vol 222 cc625-6
EARL ST. ALDWYN

My Lords, I should like to make a brief statement about the proposed new long-haul passenger building at London Airport. A description of the new building, together with outline plans and photographs, is being placed later to-day in the Royal Gallery, and a model of the building will also be available for inspection in the Upper Waiting Gallery.

LORD WILMOT OF SELMESTON

My Lords, may I ask from which places passengers will be received in this new building?

EARL ST. ALDWYN

As I have said, the building is for long-haul passengers, on more distant flights. I believe I am right in saying it is for those at present accommodated at the northern edge of the London Airport.

LORD WILMOT OF SELMESTON

My Lords, may I inquire whether, as I hope, it will mean that the squalid hutments which have done duty for so long to receive American passengers will be abolished?

EARL ST. ALDWYN

My Lords, that I understand, is the object.

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, can the noble Earl say whether there is any truth in a statement which appeared in the Press this morning that when this new building, which is described as being as large as Trafalgar Square, is completed, no one will be given any assistance with luggage? If that is true it would hardly be a good advertisement for air services in this country.

EARL ST. ALDWYN

My Lords, I was informing the House that models would be available for noble Lords to inspect, and I was not making a statement on the building or the treatment of passengers therein.

LORD FARINGDON

My Lords, I wonder if the noble Earl can tell us whether it will be possible for aeroplanes to approach this new building sufficiently closely so that it will not be necessary to pile people into buses, trail them round the airport and decant them somewhere else? Most civilised airports now bring aeroplanes right up to the reception building and it is possible to walk directly in. I hope that this will now obtain at London Airport.

EARL ST. ALDWYN

My Lords, I have not full information on exactly how near aeroplanes will come to the building, but no doubt when the noble Lord has examined the model and outline plans he will be better informed.