asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what steps he proposes to take to publish the reports of the Brabazon Committee since it was set up on 23rd December, 1942.

It is not proposed to publish the reports of the Brabazon Committee, the outcome of whose recommendations has been made known from time to time in Parliament.

Since the Brabazon Committee is an official Committee and has, presumably, involved a certain amount of public expense, and in view of the serious position in regard to the development and construction of new civil aircraft designs, is it not appropriate that we should have the details of the matters with, which this Committee has dealt?

The reports are confidential and publication of some of the information would not be to the national advantage. But such information as is available is made known to the House from time to time by the Department.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, when he anticipates being able to publish, with complete detail, full statistics of operations for the three civil aviation corporations and charter airlines, similar to those which are published monthly by the Civil Aeronautics Administration in the U.S.A.

The necessary preparatory work is proceeding for the monthly publication of detailed civil air transport statistics, but I regret that I am not at present in a position to give a definite date when publication will commence.

Will my hon. Friend see that when the details are published they will give the fullest information, not only about the operations of the civil airways corporations, but the operations of the charter companies, to ensure that they do not exceed the sphere of their activities, as limited by the Civil Aviation Act?

My hon. Friend will know that P.I.C.A.O. is dealing with the general question of fares and statistics. I can assure him that we shall honour P.I.C.A.O. recommendations to the full, but charter statistics are not so easy to obtain.

Is the hon. Gentleman getting all the information he wants from the charter companies? Are they being co-operative?

They are being most co-operative but, naturally, they do not want to disclose to competitors figures which might be likely to embarrass them in their trading undertakings.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation how many Atlantic arrivals and departures, to and from Prestwick, took place during the month of June by British and foreign airlines.

In the month of June, there were 58 arrivals and 60 departures to and from Prestwick Airport on Transatlantic services by British airlines; there were 54 arrivals and 56 departures by foreign airlines.

Can the hon. Gentleman say the number of passengers carried in each plane?

I cannot at the moment. Perhaps the hon. Member will put a Question on the Paper.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, when work on the third runway for Prestwick may be expected to start.

No target date for starting work on a third runway additional to the two provided by the Government during the war, and now in use for Trans-Atlantic and other services, can be given at present. Various alternative schemes have been examined from a technical and engineering standpoint, but additional information on a number of points is still awaited. Any practicable scheme seems likely to be costly, both in labour and expense. This factor must affect the timing of the work, although my noble Friend is concerned to ensure that its execution shall be in phase with the probable needs for such a development of the aerodrome.

Will the hon. Gentleman press this matter, as local authorities' housing schemes and many other desirable improvements are being held up by indecision on this important question?

Yes, Sir. The matter is now being discussed by the Minister and the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Can the hon. Gentleman say when Scottish-built aeroplanes will use these runways?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in connection with the various committees on civil aviation set up in the Ministry, on what grounds is a distinction made between a Departmental or inter-Departmental committee, the names of the members of which he declines to publish, and an advisory or co-ordinating or technical committee whose members' names he does customarily publish.

The 'reason for this distinction is the well recognised usage of preserving the anonymity of individual civil servants as far as possible

Could my hon. Friend say whether, in the case of the Self Committee, there are members who are not civil servants, and whether it will be possible to publish their names?

Yes, Sir, but in a Committee such as the Self Committee, in which there is joint representation, it would still be undesirable. Ministers are responsible for policy, and it is preferable that controversy should range round the Minister rather than civil servants, who are advisers of the Minister

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what steps are being taken to ensure that an adequate service of spare parts is readily available for the maintenance of civil aircraft so that unnecessary delays of several days, such as that caused to B.E.A.C. aircraft scheduled to leave Athens on Saturday, 10th May, but delayed until Friday, 16th May, and the consequent inconvenience caused to passengers, will in future be avoided.

The maintenance of their aircraft is a matter for the management of the three statutory British Airways Corporations and they, like other operators, place their orders for spares direct with the manufacturers.

Is it not the responsibility of the Minister to see that the service of spare parts to this Corporation is satisfactory? Is he aware that it took nearly a week for the small spare part to reach Athens from England? Is not that disgraceful?

When we are appealed to by either the Corporation, or the charter companies, we give every assistance. This case concerned a Dakota aircraft, for which spares are often secured only by "cannibalisation." The general position in regard to spares for Dakota aircraft is very difficult.

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that the spare part in this case was available in Britain, and that it took nearly a week to get to Athens, when aircraft were flying there every day?

I am not aware that that is in accordance with the facts.

Will the hon. Gentleman consult the Ministry of Supply, and review the whole question of spares for aeroplanes and tool kits? Is he aware that new British aircraft are not supplied with tool kits when going abroad?

That matter is being discussed by the Minister and the Ministry of Supply.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the arbitrary limit, in terms of dollars, for spare parts for Dakotas still exists?

The limit still exists, but the trouble is the actual availability of spares for an obsolete type of aircraft.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what are the duties and salary of the Director of Amenities; and what staff assist him in his work.

The Director of Amenities is responsible at the Ministry of Civil Aviation for the development and improvement of existing amenities and for the introduction of further revenue producing concessions and facilities at State-owned aerodromes in the United Kingdom. His salary is £1,320 a year. His staff will not be settled pending completion of his initial survey of the problem. It will, in any event, be small.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he is now in a position to state what airfields in the United Kingdom are to be acquired by the State for civil aviation.

A preliminary list of these airfields has now been prepared and I will, with permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say for how long this country is to be without an international marine airport conforming to modern standards?

That is an entirely different question.

When the report is circulated will it be possible for the Parliamentary Secretary to indicate what the development is likely to be, and whether these airports to be taken over will become derelict by reason of non-activity, which seems to be forecast in official circles?

No, Sir. No actual date can be given. Much depends on the availability of labour and materials, but no airport will be allowed to become dere- lict pending the bringing into operation of fuel services.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary in his report show which aerodromes have been paid for by the Government when they acquire them?

This is an intention to acquire. Some have already been acquired; others come under an intention to acquire.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation when he expects that a regular air service between London and Carlisle, or some other centre in North-West England, will be established.

A review is now being made by the British European Airways Corporation for air services to be put into operation after the financial year 1947–48, and until this is complete it is not possible to make a statement.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that while there is an elaborate service running between London and Scotland there is no service between London and the North-West of England? Could he arrange for one of the Scottish aircraft to stop at Carlisle or some other convenient place between now and the time when he may be able to effect an improvement?

That will be considered.

Is it the intention of the Government to use the airport at Crosby for future air services, and what do they intend to do with the aerodrome at Great Orton, and Kingstown Aerodrome, which belongs to the Carlisle Corporation?

I will answer that question when we come to Question No. 24.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary now aware that there is still no service to the West of England and Cornwall?

Is my hon. Friend aware that an advertisement of B.E.A.C., published in the last few days, contained a map purporting to show present services, and that these included a stop at Carlisle?

That is intelligent anticipation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any further communication regarding recent events in Hungary, either from the Government of the U.S.S.R. or from the Hungarian Government.

No, Sir. I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on 25th June to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for King's Norton (Mr. Blackburn).

Since the publication of the Hungarian White Paper, which I have now had an opportunity of reading, contains various allegations in regard to British organisations and persons, will the Foreign Secretary consider submitting the whole matter to an international body, or at least issuing some detailed statement in regard to these imputations?

I do not think that that is advisable.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that, at the Italian Consulate-General in London, British applicants are required to complete an elaborate form in quintuplicate, supply four photographs and pay £15s. for each visa for a short visit to Italy; that usually they have to queue standing for two hours; and if he will make an immediate protest.

As stated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Aberdeen and Kincardine (Mr. Spence) on 27th February last, His Majesty's Government do not feel able to make official representations to the Italian Government regarding the elaborate formalities for obtaining Italian visas. Representations have recently been made, but without success, to the Italian Government about the fee of 25s. payable for Italian visas, and in accordance with the usual practice in such circumstances the fee payable by Italian nationals for British visas has been correspondingly raised to 25s.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the third part of my Question?

I cannot overcome queueing where visas are concerned. My policy is to abolish these visas altogether. When the Treaty is ratified and one can deal with it, I shall certainly be very pleased to abolish visas in the case of Italy.

Would the right hon. Gentleman request the Italian Government at least to provide accommodation, so that these people can sit down instead of having to stand up for two hours?

I do not think that anything I can do with regard to these visas would do away with the waiting and formalities which have to be overcome. The only way to get over the problem is to abolish them. In this country, I have abolished visas for a number of countries. The system I introduced of getting passports at the Ministry of Labour offices has reduced all the trouble so far as Great Britain is concerned.