§ Mr. Malcolm MacMillanasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce a charge for navigation services at the Highlands and Islands aerodromes.
§ Mr. William RodgersNo. The air services associated with these aerodromes satisfy a recognised social need and it would be unreasonable to increase the substantial losses incurred by introducing charges for navigation services.
§ Mr. William Priceasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce charges for such minor services as are at present given free to aerodromes which provide their own navigation services.
§ Mr. William RodgersThere are about 90 such aerodromes nearly all of which represent a significant financial burden on their owners. It is not reasonable at present to charge for the minor assistance they receive when six important aerodromes owned by local authorities have the benefit of navigation services provided by and at a substantial loss to the National Air Traffic Control Service.
§ Dr. Ernest A. Daviesasked the President of the Board of Trade what consideration is being given to reducing the costs of aerodrome navigation services provided by the National Air Traffic Control Service as an alternative to the increase in charges prescribed in Statutory Instrument, 1969, No. 510.
§ Mr. William RodgersWe are about to appoint outside consultants to advise 125W on our efficiency in this field but we judge it unlikely that any savings will be sufficient to extinguish the trading loss at the relevant aerodromes even after taking into account the higher revenue that will derive from the increased charges.