§ Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Secretary of State for Air whether any project has been brought before him for an American air service which would link up two or more of the West Indian Islands; and whether, before any suggestion of this kind becomes an accepted fact, an effort can be made to see that this series of British islands be joined together by a service carried out under British ownership and British management?
§ Sir S. HOAREAs regards the first part of the question, I am aware that arrangements have been made by an American company to establish an experimental air service between Miami, Florida, and Nassau, Bahamas, and that the eventual extension of this service to the other West Indian Islands has been proposed. As regards the second part, I am in the fullest sympathy with my hon. Friend's desire that the linking up of the islands by air should be in British hands, but the matter is essentially one for commercial enterprise, with or without subsidy from the local Governments. The whole question of civil air transport in the West Indies was dealt with by the Committee mentioned in the reply given to the hon. Member for Anglesey (Sir R. Thomas) on 6th December.