§ 65. Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now take steps to improve communications by air between Scotland and the major industrial centres of the world ; and if he will consider taking steps selectively to subsidise direct overseas services.
§ Mr. NobleThe improvement of communications is a matter for the commercial judgment of airlines, subject to the granting of licences by the Air Transport Licensing Board. Subsidies for this purpose would not be justified.
§ 66. Mr. Wolrige-Gordonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list the number of direct air services from Scotland to continental destinations.
§ Mr. NobleYes. Following is the information :
WEEKLY FREQUENCIES OF SCHEDULED AIR SERVICES FROM AIRPORTS IN SCOTLAND TO AIRPORTS IN EUROPE* ADVERTISED IN TIME-TABLES IN JUNE, 1971 Passenger Services Glasgow Amsterdam 10 (6 via Newcastle) Barcelona-Palma 2 Copenhagen 7 Dusseldorf 6 (via Manchester) Paris 5 (via Birmingham) Prestwick Hamburg-Warsaw 2 Hamburg-Berlin 1 Dusseldorf-Prague 2 Dusseldorf-Belgrade-Bucharesl 2 Cargo Services Glasgow Amsterdam 5 Frankfurt 5 (via London) Prestwick Brussels 1 (via London) Brussels—Frankfurt 5 (via London) Amsterdam. 1 (via London) Amsterdam-Frankfurt 1 (via London) Amsterdam-Frankfurt- Stuttgart-Munich 2 (via London) Frankfurt-Stuttgart- Ankara-Istanbul 1 (via London) Stuttgart-Frank furt-Amsterdam 1 Stuttgart-Frankfurt- Hamburg†-Stockholm† -Copenhagen† 1 Copenhagen 3 * Excluding services to Iceland, Faroes and the Republic of Ireland. † Optional calls.