HL Deb 03 July 1967 vol 284 cc352-3

2.40 p.m.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what share of the growth in passenger traffic across the North Atlantic has B.O.A.C. obtained over the last three years.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, BOARD OF TRADE (LORD WALSTON)

My Lords, in the years 1964 to 1966 B.O.A.C.'s percentage share of the total passenger traffic carried on scheduled air services between Europe and North America was 12.0 per cent., 12.6 per cent. and 12.3 per cent. respectively. During these three years the average annual growth of B.O.A.C.'s scheduled passenger traffic on these routes has been 20.3 per cent. compared with an average annual growth of total traffic of 20.1 per cent.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his reply, I should like to ask him three short supplementaries. First, would he agree that on the North Atlantic route the VC.10 is already showing a marked superiority in load factor and passenger appeal over the Boeing? Secondly, following from that, would he agree that if more VC.10s than Boeings were flying across that route on behalf of B.O.A.C. their passenger growth would stand a better chance of achieving improved results? Lastly, are Her Majesty's Government, with the benefit of hindsight, still satisfied that the B.O.A.C.'s original decision to curtail their order for VC.10s to only 29 has proved a correct and wise decision, or should it now be reviewed?

LORD WALSTON

My Lords, I certainly agree with the noble Earl in his first supplementary, that the VC.10 shows a markedly superior passenger appeal, but I would, in fairness to B.O.A.C., suggest—and it is no more than a suggestion—that the reasons for that growth in popularity and the larger percentage of total traffic lie not solely with their aircraft, but also with their services. Secondly, I would remind the noble Earl that B.O.A.C. are at the moment awaiting delivery of a further eight Super-VC.10 aircraft and therefore they are aware of the desirability of having more aircraft of this type, as well as of other types. Thirdly, as the noble Earl well knows, it is a matter of the commercial judgment of the British Overseas Airways Corporation whether they purchase VC.10s or other types of aircraft, and it would not be right for Her Majesty's Government unduly to interfere in those decisions.