§ 2.36 p.m.
§ LORD OGMOREMy 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 whether, in view of the importance of civil aviation to Wales, a member with a good knowledge of the civil aviation needs of Wales and closely associated with Welsh affairs will be appointed to the Board of B.E.A. in succession to Mr. S. Kenneth Davies, C.B.E., whose membership of the Board terminated on March 11, 1967.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, BOARD OF TRADE (LORD WALSTON)My Lords, the overriding consideration must be that a member should have the personal qualities and experience that make the greatest contribution to the airline. Whilst not precluding a person with the qualifications referred to by the noble Lord, I think it would be wrong to make any appointment to the Board on a purely regional basis.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, as at the beginning there were three directors appointed on a regional basis, may I take it that the rule has now been changed? May I also take it that there will now be no one on the Board of B.E.A. responsible for and especially looking after the interests of Welsh civil aviation? May I also ask what is the function of the Advisory Committee under the new procedure? Finally, would the Minister care 1574 to say a word in commendation of Mr. Kenneth Davies's long and distinguished service to aviation, both in Wales and in the United Kingdom generally?
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, dealing with the last part of the noble Lord's supplementary question, I certainly should be very happy here publicly to thank Mr. Davies for his long and very valuable service in this capacity. Her Majesty's Government are extremely grateful to him for all that he has done. The noble Lord is perfectly correct in saying that the rule has changed. In fact it changed in 1960 with the passing of the Civil Aviation Licensing Act, when the Regional Advisory Councils were replaced by Regional Advisory Committees. These Committees are, as their name implies, purely advisory, to advise the Board on matters of regional importance. It was felt then that it would be improper for members responsible for advising the Independent Air Transport Licensing Board to hold positions on the Boards of the Air Corporations.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, may I assure the noble Lord that there are people living in Wales who would be a great asset to the Corporation, even though—or perhaps, as the noble Lord would say, in spite of the fact—that they are Welsh.
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, I am quite sure that anybody who would be an asset to the Corporation will be considered with very close attention, whether he comes from Wales or not. The fact that he comes from Wales, will of course in no way preclude him from serving as a member, but I want to emphasise that the job of the member is in no way to represent regional interests.
§ LORD ARWYNMy Lords, could my noble friend consider whether priority should be given here to men of Welsh birth?
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, I am sorry, I did not catch the second part of my noble friend's question.
§ LORD ARWYNMy Lords, would it not be advisable in this case that, given equal status in experience, priority should be given to appointing a Welshman? I do not think the Government fully understand the fact that these little implications, and 1575 the gradual denigration of Welshmen, has not been accepted.
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, I can assure my noble friend that there is no denigration, gradual or otherwise, of any Welshman. I think there are many examples in public service and Government which show that that is so.