Mr George Chetwynd: It must be borne in mind that the operations on the long hauls are very different from those on the short hauls. All the long haul people have had precisely the same difficulty with their aircraft.
Mr George Chetwynd: We have had an extremely useful debate which has well justified the decision of the Opposition to utilise this day to debate aviation matters for the first time for a long period. I am sorry that hon. Members from areas where there are redundancy problems, such as in Northern Ireland and in Gloucester, have not been able to take part, and I hope that I may be able to say something on their...
Mr George Chetwynd: I think we shall have to differ on that. I am always a little loth to deal with accidents on the basis of who is the operator because tomorrow, who knows, it may be the turn of the other one. I think a case has been made that there is a need for more investigation into inclusive tours. I cannot see how forty-eight inspectors can do this job efficiently all the time and keep a constant check...
Mr George Chetwynd: Yes, but we are not dealing with industrial companies. We are dealing with a business which at best in any country in the world is a marginal operation. I come now to the main sector of my remarks concerning the work of the Board. We welcome the decision of the Minister with regard to Cunard Eagle. Indeed, the right hon. Gentleman could have done nothing else. In view of the remarks of his...
Mr George Chetwynd: I had intended to be kind and to make the hon. Gentleman's case for Northern Ireland later, but I might now change my mind. We conceive the interests of British aviation to be bound up with the continued success of the Corporations, and the onus is on those who do not agree with this to prove otherwise. We have persisted in our Amendments in spite of the Minister's decision, because this is...
Mr George Chetwynd: The Board is not a judicial body and this is the only place in which we can have any influence over the Minister. If the Minister had not agreed to revoke the Cunard licence this would have been the only opportunity we should have had in public to make the case against it. I cannot understand the hon. Gentleman being so touchy about it.
Mr George Chetwynd: The British European Airways Corporation stands to lose over£7 million if B.U.A. gets some of its licences. If all the licences that are asked for are granted, B.E.A. will have sixteen Tridents redundant. These aircraft have already been ordered and something like£20 million expenditure will be rendered nugatory. The Government would be faced with negotiating traffic rights, which might...
Mr George Chetwynd: It is understood that 4,000 workers there are redundant. At de Havilland at Christchurch there is the prospect of 1,600 redundancies. My hon. Friend the Member for Flint, East (Mrs. White) gave details of the outlook in her own constituency. Many aircraft workers—some have been to see us today—have really bleak prospects unless more aircraft orders are given. The aircraft manufacturers...
Mr George Chetwynd: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consult the university authorities with a view to establishing a central clearing house to facilitate a more simple and orderly process for admissions to universities.
Mr George Chetwynd: As the Chancellor is responsible for finding most of the money for the universities, will he ask them to deal with this as a matter of urgency? As the matter stands, they find it almost impossible to get admissions this year and will find it even worse in the years ahead. Will he bear in mind, in particular, the difficulties of women students and have a better arrangement before the next year...
Mr George Chetwynd: asked the Prime Minister what instructions he has given to the departmental Ministers concerned to implement the policy, outlined in his speech at Guildhall on 13th November, concerning benefits for old-age pensioners at Christmas.
Mr George Chetwynd: Since the Prime Minister recognised in his speech that the old people had not shared in the general level of prosperity, is that all that he meant? Is it good enough for him to raise false hopes that something is to be done to help their material well-being, when what he really meant was that people should, perhaps, be a little kind to old folk at Christmas, which, important though it is,...
Mr George Chetwynd: What was the total assistance, both military and civil, particularly as the civil programme is to 4 large extent dependent upon military expenditure? What was the total allocated to airports, and not only municipal airports?
Mr George Chetwynd: asked the Minister of Aviation whether he has now reached a decision on the production of a supersonic airliner; and whether he will make a statement on his discussions with the aircraft industry and foreign Governments on this project.
Mr George Chetwynd: In view of the fairly authoritative statements which have appeared in the Press in the last week, can the right hon. Gentleman confirm that a decision has been taken that this project will be shared by the French and British industries? Is consultation going on about the relative costs to be borne by each country?
Mr George Chetwynd: Has the right hon. Gentleman any comment to make on the latest reported move of the United States to offer launchers for the use of European countries, with the result that both Italy and Germany have withdrawn from this organisation?
Mr George Chetwynd: Can the Minister tell the House when?
Mr George Chetwynd: I am very grateful to the Minister for his very careful and comprehensive introduction of the Bill. My hon. Friends and I welcome anything which is designed to improve air safety. We all recognise that if we are to achieve an ever-increasing growth of air traffic, safety will be of paramount importance, because that will be the determining factor when people make up their minds how they will...
Mr George Chetwynd: It is a Friday.
Mr George Chetwynd: One hopes that the necessity for voting will not occur very frequently. It would obviously be more sensible to get a general consensus of agreement. I think that on all the important decisions there will have to be unanimity.
