HL Deb 15 April 1969 vol 301 cc5-6
LORD BETHELL

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, in view of the fact that nearly 6 per cent. of Gibair flights between Gibraltar and Tangier were during 1968 cancelled for technical reasons, as compared with an overall B.E.A. technical cancellation rate of less than 1 per cent., they will use their influence with B.E.A., who are part owners of Gibair, to improve the reliability of this service, if necessary by providing a newer aircraft.]

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, the way in which B.E.A. exercise their minority interest in Gibraltar Airways is a matter for their commercial judgment. The noble Lord may be interested to learn, however, that during 1968 B.E.A.'s co-operation with Gibraltar Airways has resulted in a marked improvement and the figure for the full year quoted by the noble Lord conceals the benefits which were derived later in the year from certain engine modifications and the stocking of a greater volume of spares.

LORD BETHELL

My Lords, may I thank the noble Lord for that reply and ask him, by way of a supplementary question, whether he is aware that certain uneconomic flights are run and subsidised by B.E.A.; namely, the flights between the Scottish mainland and the Scottish Islands. Is there not at least as good a case for Gibraltar in its present beleaguered state to have this reliable link subsidised by B.E.A.?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, whatever flights are operated by B.E.A. in the Highlands is a matter for them to determine, but in this particular "hop" of 30 miles it really is a most uneconomic proposition and I am not sure that it is fair to expect B.E.A. to subsidise it.

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, I apologise for asking a question which although it concerns Gibraltar is a little outside the main Question. I should like to ask whether Her Majesty's Government would make a further application to the Portuguese Government with a view to obtaining landing rights at Faro in Southern Portugal, for the purpose of diversifying flights from Gibraltar for the benefit of the people of Gibraltar, as such an agreement was in the past refused by the Portuguese authorities.

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, without commenting on the proposition that this would make the airway more viable commercially, I would say that if Her Majesty's Government are to exercise any intervention of this kind they would have to be approached in the first place by Gibraltar Airways.

LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords, in view of the fact that the public at large tend to judge Gibair's standards by those of B.E.A., may I ask whether the noble Lord would consult B.E.A. with regard to the possibility of leasing a more modern turbine aircraft to Gibair, so that the image of B.E.A. is not damaged as perhaps it is being at the moment?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, B.E.A. have a minority holding in this company and I believe they would be delighted to lease them a turbine aircraft. The question is, who would pay for it?