HC Deb 17 March 1965 vol 708 cc261-2W
46. Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will make a statement about his official tour of Scotland on 8th and 9th March.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

My visit enabled me to obtain first hand from the Scottish Council their views on the air services required within and to Scotland. I was also able to attend the first meeting of the reconstituted Scottish Civil Aviation Advisory Committee. There was general agreement on what Scottish services were desirable. With the help of the Advisory Committee, I shall now consider what can reasonably be provided. With regard to the quality of the services on the trunk routes, I invited the views, under their new terms of reference of the Advisory Committee.

In the course of my visit I also had the opportunity to see the major airports of Scotland and to discuss their future. I had a meeting with representatives of Edinburgh Corporation about Turnhouse Airport, as a result of which officials of the Corporation and Ministry are now engaged in drawing up proposals for its transfer to the control of the Corporation and for its necessary development. I visited Prestwick, which has such a continuing importance to Scotland, and had discussions with local representatives; and I also visited the new airport for Glasgow, now being built at Abbotsinch. I saw for myself the excellent progress that is being made, and am confident that the new airport will be completed and come into operation next Spring, as planned.