HC Deb 16 December 1946 vol 431 cc325-6W
Mr. McKinlay

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, whether he has any further information relating to the formation of the Advisory Council for Northern Ireland.

Mr. Lindgren

I am glad to be able to say that members of the Northern Ireland Advisory Council have now been appointed by Sir Harold Hartley, Chairman of British European Airways Corporation, after consultation with the Government of Northern Ireland and my noble Friend. The appointment of the Council under the Act is a matter for British European Airways acting on behalf of the three Corporations, and their Chairman, Sir Harold Hartley, has been fortunate in securing the agreement of Mr. W. A. Edmenson to an invitation to be Chairman of the Northern Ireland Advisory Council: I am glad to say that Mr. Edmenson has also accepted my noble Friend's invitation to be a member of the Board of British European Airways. Mr. Edmenson, whose main business interest has been in cargo shipping was during the late war, the representative of the Ministry of Transport in Northern Ireland. He has for many years, dating back to the 1914 war, taken a practical interest in aviation matters. The other members of the Northern Ireland Advisory Council will be:

  • Air-Commodore Churchman—formerly Air Officer Commanding Northern Ireland and now Chief Inspector in the Northern Ireland Ministry of Health and Local Government.
  • Sir Basil Macfarland—Mayor of Londonderry.
  • Mr. J. P. Mackie—Director of a Belfast textile engineering company.
  • Mr. George Porter—National Federation of Building Trades Operatives.
  • Mr. F. Storey—Chairman of the Northern Ireland Tourist Association.

The terms of reference of the Council will be to advise the British Overseas Airways Corporation, British European Airways Corporation, and British South American Airways Corporation on cavil aviation matters affecting Northern Ireland with the right of access to the Minister of Civil Aviation, if necessary The Council will thus be in a position to make full representations to any of the Corporations, and if necessary, to my noble Friend on matters covering the whole field of air services of interest to Northern Ireland.