§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether an aeroplane recently started from Hull to fly to Amsterdam with a valuable cargo, but was compelled to fly by way of Lympne, near Folkestone, in order that her papers might be examined by Customs officials; and whether, in view of the importance of encouraging an air service across the North Sea, arrangements will be made, in consultation with other Government Departments, for a Customs Aerodrome to be established in Yorkshire or Lincolnshire, or that Customs officials can attend at the aerodromes already in use?
§ Major TRYONThe reply to the first part of the hon and gallant Member's question is in the affirmative. Long oversea flights by purely land aircraft involve at the present stage of development an element of risk which, in the public interest, it is not considered commercial aeroplanes should be encouraged to take. Accordingly, it is thought undesirable to establish a Customs aerodrome for land aircraft in Yorkshire or Lincolnshire. The Customs aerodrome at Lympne was established to meet the needs of aeroplanes engaged in Continental traffic for which clearance from London would be inconvenient. Facilities for the Customs examination of flying-boats or sea aircraft engaged in traffic across the North Sea have been provided at Felixstowe, and it is not anticipated that there will be any difficulty in making similar arrangements in Yorkshire or elsewhere on the East Coast for seaplanes, flying-boats or amphibious aircraft when the demand arises.