Mr George Chetwynd: As the local authorities are getting together on this, will the hon. Gentleman meet a deputation of local authorities and local Members concerned to discuss whether we can have a better arrangement for the use of Middleton St. George aerodrome, and, if necessary, use his authority with the Secretary of State for Air for this purpose?
Mr George Chetwynd: asked the Minister of Aviation if he will now agree to the purchase of three helicopters for British European Airways in order to allow an inter-city helicopter service to be operated.
Mr George Chetwynd: Will the right hon. Gentleman make it quite clear that the use of American helicopters, even with British engines, is an interim measure only until we have sufficiently adequate machines ourselves to take their place? Will he also say that we have to act quickly on this if we are to have an inter-city service both between cities in this country and on the short Continental routes?
Mr George Chetwynd: asked the Minister of Aviation what action he is taking to avert the actual and imminent redundancy in the aircraft industry by placing suitable Government orders for civil and military aircraft.
Mr George Chetwynd: Has the Minister any target in mind for the future shape of this industry? If it means any reduction, will he see that adequate planning takes place in order to avoid any undue hardship?
Mr George Chetwynd: Will the Minister bear in mind that this help is extremely patchy, and that, whereas in some areas there is redundancy, in other areas similar firms making similar aircraft are asking for labour?
Mr George Chetwynd: Will the right hon. Gentleman not let the direct interests of the hon. Gentleman behind him cloud the clear judgment which he showed on the Cunard case when he comes to the applications now before him?
Mr George Chetwynd: Can the Prime Minister say whether the leak was known to the Government while Mr. Fleming was in this country and asked for the documents?
Mr George Chetwynd: I am very grateful to my right hon. Friend the Member for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson) and to the hon. Member for Farnham (Sir G. Nicholson) for having opened the debate on what I feel to be the right tone. In these affairs, most of us naturally regard the Treasury as the root of all evil, and it is equally natural that one of its Minister—I understand that today it will be the Financial...
Mr George Chetwynd: That is one of the amazing things—that we always seem to get our Reports very quickly and very accurately done indeed. However, the printing is pretty poor—the style of it. The print is rather small, and it is sometimes difficult to read; but that is the fault of the setting, not the setters. Coming to normal Government activities, we find that in the normal day-to-day administration...
Mr George Chetwynd: If the hon. Gentleman reads the Report about the effect of raising landing charges at London Airport, he will find that the policy is to move away from subsidising airports as fast as possible. In considering the matter of increased landing charge at the airport, we are in the same position as with the drug companies in facing a lack of real information about what charges are levied at...
Mr George Chetwynd: Perhaps, but I have not seen any of them there. After my speech, they may feel that it is more entertaining than they had believed and they will go along. I wish that something could be done about the arrangement which separates the poor permanent secretary by at least twenty feet from his experts from the Department. It is very difficult for him to get the least information, for he does not...
Mr George Chetwynd: I agree that there is a dilemma here, and I did not state that a design study should go to a Government establishment instead of to private contractors, but in addition to going to private industry. We must bear in mind that the research establishments can contribute a great deal to this matter, which they are unable to do at present.
Mr George Chetwynd: Would the Minister bear in mind the fact that this part of the North-East is typical of the other development districts, but that it seems to be becoming worse off than other regions? In considering the matter, will he bear in mind that this development district represents 13 per cent. of the unemployed in all development districts, that it gets only 6 per cent. of the new factories and only...
Mr George Chetwynd: asked the Minister of Aviation when he proposes to bring in legislation to establish an airport authority, as proposed in Command Paper No. 1457 of August, 1961.
Mr George Chetwynd: As there is general agreement on the desirability of this move, is that a sufficient answer to give? Cannot the right hon. Gentleman go ahead with this straight away?
Mr George Chetwynd: asked the Minister of Aviation what decision he has reached on the future of Newcastle Airport to serve the North-East.
Mr George Chetwynd: Is the Parliamentary Secretary judging this airport on its own merits or waiting until he has reached general decisions on other airports? Will he bear in mind that until this airport is brought up to the standard of a modern, efficient aerodrome, the traffic is not likely to increase as greatly as has that in Manchester?
Mr George Chetwynd: There was a little confusion at Question Time on Monday about the£7¼million. May I take it now that this sum refers only to civil projects and excludes military projects, or does it refer to both?
Mr George Chetwynd: That does not apply in this case. The hon. Member should know that there can be no fare competition on the North Atlantic route. The fares are arranged by I.A.T.A. Cunard Eagle did not make that point in its claim.
