asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, if he is satisfied that the intended dismissals of some 2,500 employees on the staff of the British European Airways Corporation is being conducted with meticulous fairness; can he state the method being employed for determining who shall be dismissed and who not; and is the reduction in staff being extended also to the top level executives, a similar if not greater proportion of whom will also become redundant with the reduction in size of the Corporation's activities.

This is a matter of management for the Corporation. I am satisfied that such dismissals as become necessary are being determined under the normal negotiating machinery of the National Joint Council.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the system which the Corporation has announced is that of merit and that there seems to be no system of assessing merit? In a case of an overseas headquarters, namely, in Switzerland, where traffic has fallen, the staff still remains at a high level, and does not he think that his Department should take an interest in this matter?

Yes, Sir, the Department does take an interest, but, primarily, the responsibility is between the employer and the employee and the negotiating machinery is used for that purpose. The general conditions applied are those of length of service, ability and the general satisfactory service of the person concerned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether at Northolt airfield, or any other British airfield, there is provided adequate protection for foreign aircraft there accommodated; and whether there has been any instance where the foreign country owning such aircraft has provided armed guards for their protection without reference to the British authorities in charge of such airfields.

All aircraft, British or foreign, are under the protection of the airport police at all civil airports in the United Kingdom. It would not be exceptional for foreign aircraft carrying diplomatic passengers also to be guarded by members of their own crew, whether armed or not.

Is it not a new situation in this country for a foreign Power to bring an armed guard here?

No, Sir, it is not new. The last occasion on which it happened was in connection with an aircraft belonging to the President of the United States which brought the American Secretary of State to the Foreign Ministers Conference. In that particular case two members of the crew, armed with automatic pistols, formed a guard. That was in October, 1947.

Would the hon. Gentleman point out to our friends in the United States that it is quite unnecessary to bring people to guard their aircraft on British airfields?

Would my hon. Friend explain to the House how two men managed continually to guard an aeroplane?

These are generally military aircraft. It is not unusual in military aircraft for members of the crew, at various times, to form a guard over their aircraft.

Could not my hon. Friend point out to the representatives of that country that they are coming to a civilised country where that sort of thing is unnecessary?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in what circumstances a guard of armed Russian soldiers was mounted over Russian aircraft at Northolt Aerodrome.

So far as I am aware, no such armed guard has been mounted on these aircraft.

In view of the previous answer of the Parliamentary Secretary given to a similar Question, in which he said it was the practice, or had been the practice, for the armed crew of an aircraft to be put on guard over foreign aircraft, why is it that these members of the guard were put on board specially?

In reply to the previous Question I said it was not unusual for an aircraft to be put under an armed guard.

Could the Minister say why some hon. Members of this House are so touchy about Russia guarding her own property in this country?

Is it disputed that there was an armed guard over this aircraft?

There was no armed guard, and no snow on their boots either.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what instances there have been on any British airfield of foreign aircraft landing or taking off, after discharging passengers or goods, without the permission of the authority in charge of operations; and for the protection of all air traffic what action is taken against any offending aircraft ignoring the usual safety regulations.

No such instances have been recorded at airfields in this country where there is a civil control organisation. Under Article 10 of the Air Navigation (Consolidation) Order, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has the power to detain any aircraft which is intended or likely to be flown in contravention of existing regulations.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation of he will give the locations of ex-R.A.F. airfields in the counties of Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire which have been, or will shortly be, allocated for the use of civil aviation and flying clubs.

Aldermaston, Kidlington and White Waltham are ex-R.A.F. airfields in use for civil aviation purposes. Flying clubs are located at Kidlington and White Waltham.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what are the names of those now appointed to the National Civil Aviation Consultative Council; in particular what is his policy in connection with the inclusion of Members of Parliament on this Council; and what are the principles guiding him in his selection of the members of the Council.

The National Civil Aviation Consultative Council is an advisory body appointed by my noble Friend as being representative of a wide variety of interests associated with civil aviation. Members of Parliament are not included on the Council in that capacity. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the Council's membership and terms of reference.

Would my hon. Friend make representations to his noble Friend on the score of Members of Parliament being included on this Council along the lines of Members being included on the Post Office Advisory Council, because I think this is a similar case?

The Post Office Council is, I think, a consumers' council. This is an advisory council to my noble Friend, and Members of Parliament are not included as such, although they can be included.

Does not the Minister think that the consumers' interests are among the interests he should consult?

The Air Transport Advisory Council consider consumers' interests.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why opportunity was not given to passengers waiting to fly to Australia and the Far East to be carried in the vacant seats of the specially chartered aircraft which carried the Minister of Civil Aviation on his recent visit to Australia and the Far East, in order to reduce the cost of this trip and in view of the long list of persons awaiting air passage to that part of the world.

No seats were available.

Is it not a fact that in reply to previous Questions asked on this matter, an indication was given that the aircraft was not full and that seats were available, and, that being the case, how comes it that we receive this reply today?

The determining load factor in an aircraft flying from this country to Australia is the sector from Karachi to Singapore. As far as that sector was concerned, the aircraft was fully loaded.

Can the Minister say how many passengers there were?

I would like notice of that Question. I think there were six or seven, but I am not quite certain.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what tenders were received from Charter Companies by B.O.A.C., and for what amount, to carry the Minister of Civil Aviation on his recent visit to Australia and the Far East.

None, Sir.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary mean that no quotations were given to the B.O.A.C., which is a chartered company, for this trip, and, if not, why not?

In air transport, as in all other businesses, there are generally accepted prices and practices. [HON. MEMBERS: "No."]The prices determining the cost of aircraft are its operating costs, landing charges and demurrage. These charges are well known.

Is it not a fact that tenders were given many thousands of pounds lower than the actual cost of this trip, and will the Parliamentary Secretary go into that and check his facts?

No, Sir, I am not aware of that.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say how many journeys for a similar purpose, and at what cost, were organised for Ministers in the preceding Government?

I have not that information at the moment.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary say whether it is an accepted practice in air transport to leave a seat empty between London and Karachi because it will be filled from Karachi to Singapore?

No, if the passengers are through passengers the aircraft has to fly light between London and Karachi. Sometimes it is possible to take a passenger from London to Karachi if one is picking up a passenger at Karachi.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what steps he is taking to implement Section 41 of the Civil Aviation Act; and when instances of failure to comply with the provisions of this section on the part of any of the Corporations are brought to his notice by any workers' organisations interested, whether he ensures that action is taken to effect remedies.

The initiative under Section 41 of the Act does not lie with my noble Friend, but if a dispute referred to him under that Section could not otherwise be disposed of, it would be for him to refer it to the Industrial Court for settlement.

May I ask my hon. Friend whether, if details are given to him of a trades union which has made representations under this Section, and received no satisfaction, he will look into that case?

With pleasure.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (I) what effects on air traffic the recent restrictions on overseas travel are having; and what adjustment in the services has been made, or contemplated;

(2) what effect the recent cuts in capital expenditure and the restrictions on overseas travel have had on the development programme of his Department and the three air corporations.

So far as the British Overseas Airways Corporation and British South American Airways Corporation are concerned, the recent restrictions on overseas travel have had only a negligible effect. No adjustment of services has been caused thereby nor is any contemplated. As regards B.E.A.'s continental services, the number of passengers carried in October was about 25 per cent. below that carried in September. It is, however, impossible to say how much of this reduction was seasonal and how much attributable to the restrictions on overseas travel. The frequencies of certain continental services have been adjusted to the traffic. As to the effect upon the development programme of my Department, I would refer my hon. Friend to Appendix A5 of the recently published Government White Paper on Capital Investment (Cmd. Paper 7268).

May I ask the Minister whether, in view of the adjustment to which he has just referred, he will consider the possibility of introducing an air service to the West of England and Cornwall?

That does not arise out of this Question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what airfields near Edinburgh are being considered as alternative airports to Turnhouse.

None, Sir.

May we take it that the Minister is satisfied that Turnhouse aerodrome will meet the requirements of Edinburgh in any season?

There may have to be diversions to other airports, owing to exceptional weather conditions.

Can my hon. Friend say where those diversionary airports will be?

Probably Leuchars; possibly Renfrew or Prestwick.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what landing difficulties are anticipated at Turnhouse aerodrome during the winter; and whether these are likely to result in a cessation of the London—Edinburgh air service.

Bad weather may occasionally interrupt the service, but otherwise it will continue.

Is the Minister aware that those using this airport are afraid that under other conditions, not especially bad weather conditions, this service will be interrupted, and will he take steps to improve the airport?

The airport is not as entirely satisfactory as we would desire, and any improvement in navigational aids that can be made is being done.

Is the Minister prepared to consider East Fortune, Drem and Macmerry as alternatives rather than Leuchars, Renfrew and Prestwick?

Regarding East Fortune, an undertaking was given that, owing to the presence of a sanatorium in the vicinity, it would not be used for civil aviation purposes in peacetime.