asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what replies have been received from Colonial Governments to his inquiry whether they would wish, under the terms of Article 5 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation concluded at Chicago in 1944, to prescribe routes to be followed by civil aircraft over their territories; and what action he proposes to take in this matter.

I regret that my reply to the hon. Member on 7th May was likely to be misleading. So far, I have consulted Colonial Governments only in regard to the routes to be followed by scheduled international air services and not in regard to the action to be taken under Article 5 of the Chicago Convention. I am advised that it is desirable that where routes are prescribed they should fit into the air traffic control pattern to be established in the areas concerned. I am in communication with my noble Friend the Minister of Civil Aviation, with regard to the air traffic control pattern to be established in the Colonial areas concerned, and I propose to defer further communication with Colonial Governments on the subject until decisions are reached on the question of air traffic control.