asked the Minister of Aviation if, when he negotiates with foreign Government in respect of the air traffic rights necessary to implement the licences granted by the Air Transport Licensing Board to independent operators to enable them to fly to foreign destinations, he will ensure that those rights are not granted at the expense of traffic rights at present granted to British European Airways on those routes.

In all my negotiations with foreign Governments my concern is to obtain the best possible deal for all British air transport operations.

Unless the Minister is prepared to give an affirmatory answer to my Question, is not it clear that he is contemplating the direct transfer of traffic rights from B.E.A. to another British-owned firm, and what possible gain to the country can there be in that?

I think that a rather narrow interpretation of the Air Transport Licensing legislation.