§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions the Minister of State has hired a Hawker Siddeley 125 Executive Jet from a privately owned charter air company; what was the cost in each instance; and what would have been the costs had these visits been made by using the normal services provided by the publicly-owned British air lines.
§ Mr. JayNone. The Ministers of State have used the HS 125 of my Department's Civil Aviation Flying Unit on eight occasions. The total out of pocket cost was £1,275, compared with £450 for scheduled services if they had been available.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the President of the Board of Trade why, in view of the fact that the publicly owned air services had flights available, he hired from a private charter company a Hawker Siddeley 125 Executive Jet for his recent visit to Lyons; what was the cost of this; and what would have been the cost if a normal booking on one of the British-owned airlines had been taken instead.
§ Mr. JayI did not hire an aircraft from a private charter company. An 349W HS 125 of my Department's Civil Aviation Flying Unit was used to take the Minister of State to the British Week in Lyons and to bring me back. The out-of-pocket cost of both journeys was approximately £200 compared with £91 4s. for the scheduled service, which my other engagements did not permit me to use.