§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Aviation (1) if he will give details of the passenger and freight transport services to and from Malta which operate under British Government licences, with particular reference to the nature and duration of their control;
(2) if he is aware that British European Airways have a monopoly of air services to and from Malta; and if he will state the details of their licence, with particular reference to the period of its duration and expiration, respectively.
§ Mr. RipponBritish European Airways do not have a monopoly of passenger or freight air services to and from Malta. Skyways have a passenger service from London to Malta which under the present United Kingdom approval may continue to March, 1963, and British United Airways have a freight service between Gatwick and Malta,122W approval for which lasts till February, 1965. British United Airways also have approval for a passenger service from Malta to East and Central Africa which lasts till September, 1968. There is no time limit at present on most of British European Airway's passenger approvals, nor on their freight approval between the United Kingdom and Malta.
The United Kingdom authorisations for these services are based on the Air Corporations Act, 1949, and will be converted into transitional licences by the Air Transport Licensing Board under Section 2 (6) of the Civil Aviation (Licensing) Act, 1960.