asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether the possibility of joint user of airfields is being examined; and has a decision yet been taken to use St. Athan R.A.F. station as a civil airport whilst it continues to be used as a R.A.F. station.

:Yes, Sir. The question of joint user of airfields is being examined by my Department and the other Government Departments concerned. St. Athan is included in this examination, but no decision has yet been reached.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he will terminate the system of granting priority travel on internal air lines; and whether he is aware that this system causes inconvenience to the travelling public and is disliked by the air line companies obliged to implement it.

:It is not yet possible to bring the priority system to an end. The inconvenience caused is regretted and the system will be terminated as soon as conditions permit.

:Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there has been a case where, for a single priority reservation, an air line company has been obliged to separate husband and wife on the first day of their honeymoon?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he will permit pre-war operating companies, or existing operating companies, to resume any internal air line they have previously operated provided no other company is operating the route, as such permission would be beneficial to demobilised R.A.F. personnel anxious to enter civil aviation.

These matters are under consideration in connection with the Government's Civil Aviation policy on which it is hoped to make a statement in the near future.

:Will the hon. Gentleman permit any air line company which already has sufficient aircraft and personnel so to resume?

That would be to anticipate the statement which my Noble Friend hopes to make in the near future, and I am afraid I cannot do that.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he will now permit internal air lines to operate radio telephony for wireless guidance under the same conditions as existed prior to the war.

:A reorganisation of Radio services in the United Kingdom is now taking place whereby certain frequency channels used by the Royal Air Force during the war will be released for civil aviation purposes. Some of these channels will be made available to internal air lines for radio telephony on the pre-war basis.

Is my hon. Friend aware that, with the small aircraft which it is necessary to employ on internal air lines to-day, the use of radio telephony will save the carriage of a wireless operator and offer to the general public, already crowded out, a 10 per cent. increase of passenger seats?

Yes, Sir, I am aware of that consideration, and we hope to be able to provide facilities for that purpose.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he can now make a full statement with regard to the policy of the Government on civil aviation; and to what extent previous Government policy on this subject is to be modified.

My Noble Friend hopes to be in a position to make an announcement on civil aviation policy at an early date.

:Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the failure of the Government to make up their minds on this very vital question causes great confusion to civil aviation not only in this country but throughout the Empire? Will he make up his mind as soon as possible because I intend to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment?

:My Noble Friend hopes to be able to make this statement very shortly. He has been in office for only two months and I could not agree that this is a long period in which to formulate a policy on such a complicated issue.

Further to the last part of my supplementary question, is it not a fact that the policy laid down by the late Government was advocated in a White Paper submitted to this House by the present President of the Board of Trade?

It is one of the constitutional axioms of this country that no Government is committed by its predecessor.

While that may be true, might I ask the hon. Gentleman what possible objection there could have been to going ahead with the policy which all members of the late Government approved, and which would have enabled us to meet the challenge from America to which we are now subjected?

No, Sir, the question of policy has not led to any delay in meeting our post-war requirements for air transport. The only delay is caused by the physical factor of aircraft.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if it is for his Ministry or for the Air Ministry that the constructional work is being proceeded with at Heath Row Aerodrome; what is the cost of the constructional work decided upon and now in hand; and whether the long-term policy for Heath Row is to be developed for the use of civil aviation or for the R.A.F.

:The constructional work now proceeding at Heath Row is being undertaken on behalf of the Air Ministry. Work was started during the war to meet Royal Air Force requirements for a large airfield near London for long distance transport, but since it was recognised that the site selected was the best for a major civil airport, there was close consultation between the Air Ministry and my Department to ensure that the work undertaken for military purposes could readily be incorporated in a civil development scheme. Long-term policy is that Heath Row should be developed for the use of civil aviation and the use made of it by the Royal Air Force will depend on defence needs. The cost of the work now in hand is about £4,000,000. Further development on civil aviation account will necessarily extend over a considerable number of years and no estimate of the total cost can yet be given.

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker, may we have one window, or preferably two, open?

Will the Minister give information with regard to whether the scheme for Heath Row is preferable in every way to the scheme contemplated for Heston before the war as the civil airport for London? Will my hon. Friend also say how much work now in hand will be of use for a civil airport, because my information is that some £100,000 is being wasted on the present scheme?

:The scheme being put in hand at Heath Row is, without question, much preferable to the use of Heston. Heston is not really suitable as a major airport for London, and we intend that Heath Row shall be equal to any aerodrome in the world. I am advised that all the work now being done at Heath Row will be suitable for civil purposes and the money, therefore, is not being wasted.

In view of the hon. Gentleman's statement that Heston is unsatisfactory, and in view of the fact that Heath Row is not yet ready, will the hon. Gentleman consider implementing the promise given to designate Prestwick as an international airport?

I should like it made clear that Heston, of course, is not unsatisfactory for all purposes. I said as a major long distance aerodrome. The question of Prestwick is another matter on which I hope to be able to make a statement at an early date.

In view of the fact that Heath Row will not be ready for two years, and that Croydon is completely unsatisfactory, will the hon. Gentleman make strong representations to the R.A.F. to hand over Northolt, which is the only suitable aerodrome within reasonable distance of London?

It is not a fact that Heath Row will not be ready for another two years. In fact, the R.A.F. will probably be using the first runway at Heath Row next month, and for civil aviation three runways will probably be ready for use next summer. There is, therefore, no foundation for some of the rumours that I have seen on this subject. With regard to the use of Northolt, that is covered by the answer which I have already given on the question of joint user. I should like to take this opportunity, however, of saying that the Air Ministry is being most co-operative in this matter. We realise on our part the overriding needs of defence and the Air Ministry recognises the place for civil aviation in the post-war world.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what steps His Majesty's Government propose to take to meet the challenge of the American air lines to capture the air traffic between North America, Europe and the Far East.

My Noble Friend hopes to be in a position to make a statement about the organisation of British overseas air services at an early date. Every possible endeavour is being made, including acceleration of British aircraft production, to overcome handicaps which are the direct result of our war efforts.

Can the hon. Gentleman explain why the Government have lost all power of initiative and decision in regard to this matter? Has an atomic bomb struck them?

No, Sir. The Government are acting with great decision in this matter, and we hope to introduce a policy in a very much shorter time than it took our predecessors to do so.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that that confidence is not shared by our friends in Eire, who see, through American activity, that country rapidly becoming an American Dominion?

No, Sir. I cannot agree with the hon. Gentleman. We have recently had very friendly conversations with Mr. Lemass, and there is no foundation for that assumption.

When will the hon. Gentleman be in a position to give the House an account of the conversations?

If a Question is put on the Order Paper I will do my best to answer it.