asked the Minister of Aviation on how many routes the independent airlines have started scheduled services since the passing of the Air Transport Licensing Act; and how many of these are in competition with the nationalised corporations.

The independent airlines have started about 50 scheduled services in consequence of successful applications to the Air Transport Licensing Board. Of these nine are substantially competitive with B.E.A. and none with B.O.A.C.

Is my hon. Friend satisfied that, as a result of such competition, better service to passengers is provided generally without undue waste of unused passenger accommodation?

Yes, Sir. I think it is true that better service has been provided and, interestingly enough, I think that B.E.A. is the first to admit it.

Mr. Lee:

How does this figure compare with the number of licences granted? Will the hon. Gentleman explain why it is that the competition which was threatened to B.O.A.C. did not take place?

I am sorry, I do not quite understand.

Mr. Lee:

Will the hon. Gentleman tell the House the number of flights or the number of routes independents are running and how this compares with the number of licences that have been granted? How many routes are they not running? The hon. Gentleman says there are no competitors to B.O.A.C. Does he recall that the then Minister told us some time ago that competition on the North Atlantic route could not be afforded and therefore we had the B.O.A.C.-Cunard link coming into existence to prevent it?

I have not the answers to those questions now. If the hon. Gentleman puts down a Question about the number of licence applications I will try to answer it.

Will my hon. Friend consider favourably further applications by British Eagle to run services between Belfast and London?

The question of applications is one which comes before the Board and as my right hon. Friend has the rôle of appeal here, I would not care to comment.

Is it not the case that the decisions of the Licensing Board on applications for licences by private airlines on parallel routes are completely arbitrary? Will he consider the request I made some time ago for the Government to take powers to issue a directive to the Board about the considerations it should follow in these matters?

I cannot agree that the Board's decisions are completely arbitrary and the answer to the second part of the hon. Gentleman's question is "No".