Mr. R. Duckworthasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider giving instructions to all diplomatic, Consular and commercial representatives in large countries to make extensive use of flying facilities?
§ Viscount CranborneThe existing regulations, which have been sanctioned by the Treasury, permit of British 2775W diplomatic and Consular officers and members of the Commercial Diplomatic Service travelling by air if they desire to do so without special reference to the Foreign Office, provided that the aircraft in which they travel is operated by a company registered in the British Empire and provided that the cost of the journey by air is not greater than the cost by other available means of transport. If the cost of travel by air is greater, the Foreign Office have power to sanction travel by air if the urgency of the business justifies the extra cost entailed. Journeys by foreign aircraft may be permitted by the Foreign Office in exceptional circumstances, and in certain foreign countries general permission to travel by foreign aircraft has already been given. It is not considered desirable to extend the scope of these regulations.