asked the Secretary of State for Air what steps have been, or are being, taken to decrease sleeping, messing and other transit facilities which were, in February of this year, available on Luqa aerodrome, Malta, to both private charter companies and B.O.A.C.; and how much official notice was given, respectively, to private charter companies and B.O.A.C. of any proposed changes in existing arrangements.

No cut has yet been made in the provision at the Luqa station of the R.A.F. of beds, meals and so on for the charter companies and for the B.O.A.C. It is clear, however, that the R.A.F. cannot continue to carry this burden; B.O.A.C. were warned of this some time ago, and the charter companies have now been told that we want some new arrangement within a month. I am discussing with my noble Friend the Minister of Civil Aviation, and with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies, how the change can best be made.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that charter companies will be treated in exactly the same way as B.O.A.C.?

We shall do our best to do justice to all. I think it would be probably the case that, under the arrangements finally made, B.O.A.C. will make arrangements with the charter companies and will do their best to help them.