asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on what basis were applicants selected as commandants of the London, Northolt and Prestwick airports.

The appointments of commandants for these three airports were made by selection from candidates, both within and without my Department, who were considered to possess the requisite wide experience of large-scale aviation and the allied ground services.

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary think it extraordinary that these three appointments should be given to three retired senior R.A.F. officers, and should not the policy of the Ministry be to employ men who have been engaged in the industry? If the Ministry is going to engage men from the R.A.F., why not take younger men with experience of practical flying?

It is true that all three of these men are ex-R.A.F. One of them was already in the Ministry's service, and his appointment is a promotion within the service, and the other two were appointed from outside the service because at the time of the selection the Ministry considered that there were not enough members of the staff with sufficient experience to take these important posts.

In the interests of those employed in the civil aviation industry, and in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.