§ Mrs. Ewingasked the President of the Board of Trade why he turned down the recommendations of the Air Transport Licensing Board to allow the independent airlines to operate services for which no traffic rights exist at present, unless the applications were amended to delete reference to airports in the United Kingdom except London; and what effect this refusal will have on Prestwick Airport.
§ Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu:The Air Transport Licensing Board has made no such recommendations. Under the powers in Section 2(3) of the Civil Aviation 369W (Licensing) Act, 1960, the Board of Trade have directed the Licensing Board to refuse without hearing certain applications of parts of applications for air service licences to operate transatlantic services which would, in the Board's opinion, involve the negotiation with other Governments of traffic rights which it would be inexpedient for the time being to seek. The directions derive solely from this consideration, and are not related to the United Kingdom airports mentioned in the applications. The effect of the directions on Prestwick is to cause one application (which related equally to Manchester and London) to fall in total and two others to fall in part, one of which has since been withdrawn. The remaining applications or parts of applications relating to Prestwick stand and will be heard, unless withdrawn by the applicants.