HL Deb 03 August 1961 vol 234 cc211-2
THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether stricter measures could be taken to confine spectators to those parts of London Airport reserved for their use, so as to eliminate the many inconveniences which they cause to bona-fide passengers and their friends, particularly on Sunday.]

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, as many as 20,000 spectators may visit the roof gardens in the Central Terminal at Heathrow on a Sunday or Bank Holiday in the summer, and many of them succumb to an understandable desire to see what goes on inside the passenger building. Though spectators are welcome, the Airport management are aware of the hindrance which they may cause to the flow of passengers, and do all they can by means of signs, barriers and police to keep them within the areas set aside for their use.

THE EARL OF COSFORD

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for his Answer and I hope that he will pass my remark on to the new owners of the Airport when the change takes place.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLS-BOROUGH

My Lords, when are we going to get a chance to talk about this new arrangement at the Airport? This sudden announcement of the Government's decision has been published nowhere except in the Press.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, may I support the noble Viscount in that question? I was hoping that we should have had a Government statement on this matter, and that they might have given us the opportunity to ask some questions. Parliament is going down to-day and really we have had no opportunity of discussing this highly important development.

THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL AND MINISTER FOR SCIENCE (VISCOUNT HAILSHAM)

My Lords, if the matter had been brought to my attention, I should have sought to give both noble Lords an answer, but this hardly arises by way of a supplementary to my noble friend.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLS-BOROUGH

My Lords, it is only because it was announced in the Press this morning. It is a curious way of announcing important Government policy.

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

Even so, if the noble Viscount had brought to my attention that he wanted information I should have done my best to give it to him.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLS-BOROUGH

Perhaps the noble Viscount would oblige us by having a word on it if we raise it on the Adjournment.

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

I will do my best, of course, to do what the noble Viscount wishes to do, but I had no previous notice that this matter was going to be raised.

LORD MORRISON OF LAMBETH

My Lords, I should like to ask the noble Lord whether this change requires legislation or not, and, if so, under what powers is the change being made.

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

My Lords, I really must ask for notice of these questions, which do not arise from a supplementary to the Question on the Order Paper.

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, referring to the original Question, may I ask whether, as a charge is levied at the Queen's Building for access to the terrace there, my noble friend would ask his right honourable friend to consider imposing a similar charge for access for visitors to the terrace of the main central building with a view to easing congestion within the main hall.

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, I will certainly pass on the views of my noble friend to my right honourable friend. But I would suggest that as few restrictions as possible would make life easier for people who want to travel.