Mr Frederick Gough: I am sorry, Sir Gordon, but I have begun to lose my train of thought. I regard the point as extremely important. If my understanding of the law at the moment is correct, perhaps my words will be heard in Crawley and other new towns so that, when we do have new large office buildings erected, which I hope we shall, they will be occupied by private enterprise and not by nationalised industries.
Mr Frederick Gough: asked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a statement on his plans for developing Croydon Aerodrome as a centre for business and private aviation.
Mr Frederick Gough: Yes, but is my right hon. Friend aware that the Minister of Housing and Local Government has now taken several months? Is he fighting the battle on behalf of aviation in this connection? Does he realise that since the end of the war 18 airfields in the vicinity of London have been closed down and that it would be a calamity if Croydon also were closed down?
Mr Frederick Gough: In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I beg to give notice that I shall endeavour to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
Mr Frederick Gough: asked the Minister of Aviation if he is now in a position to make a statement on the formation of a National Flying Trust for the promotion of gliding and light aeroplane flying.
Mr Frederick Gough: I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply, which will be welcomed by all interested in private flying. May I ask him two questions? First, would loans under this trust be made available only to British aircraft or to foreign aircraft as well? Secondly, can he give an assurance to the House that his Ministry will back this by helping in providing more aerodromes, otherwise the scheme will...
Mr Frederick Gough: Mr. Frederick Gough (Horsham) rose—
Mr Frederick Gough: Mr. Gough rose—
Mr Frederick Gough: On a point of order, Mr. Deputy-Speaker. The hon. Member made a slight on me and will not give way. I ask him once again if he will have the courage to give way?
Mr Frederick Gough: I am grateful to the hon Member for giving way. The hon. Member has a great reputation inside and outside this House for maintaining the privileges of hon. Members of the House—
Mr Frederick Gough: Many of us who feel very much with him are in this difficulty that, while the name of the gentleman may be Anthony Wedgwood Benn, the words "Member of Parliament" do not appear after his name.
Mr Frederick Gough: asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will now announce his decision in connection with the public inquiry held at Croydon on 14th October, 1960, on the future of Croydon Airport.
Mr Frederick Gough: I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Is he aware that there are many divergent and important interests concerned in this and that five months is quite a long time? Can he give the House a more specific promise that perhaps a decision will be reached in, say, the next month?
Mr Frederick Gough: My object in bringing this matter to the notice of the House is twofold. First, it directly affects two of my constituents, both of whom were at the appropriate time civil servants. One of them is still active, whilst the other is retired. Secondly, the circumstances which I will elaborate seem to show some very grave defects in the system called Estacode which in itself is, or should be,...
Mr Frederick Gough: I am grateful to my hon. Friend. I was quoting a letter which Mr. Hartley wrote to his chief, and I quite agree with my hon. Friend that it seems another matter of inexplicability that no answer was forthcoming. Those were not my words; they were Mr. Hartley's words. Recently my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon, referred in this House to a case in which the same director has been...
Mr Frederick Gough: I apologise to my hon. Friend for interrupting, but will he now or later say whether civil servants in that position have a right of appeal?
Mr Frederick Gough: asked the Minister of Education if he will now institute an inquiry into the circumstances relating to the down-grading and subsequent dismissal of Mr. F. St. A. Hartley from the Science Museum by Dr. Morrison-Scott in 1956.
Mr Frederick Gough: Would not my right hon. Friend agree that at the time I took this matter up with him there was a long file on the subject and that perhaps his Answer is rather too brief in view of the circumstances? Would he further agree that these two gentlemen whose names appear on the Order Paper are both constituents of mine and that the name of one of them has recently appeared in connection with an...
Mr Frederick Gough: On a point of order. It would obviously be impossible in question and answer to pursue the matter further. I therefore beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.
Mr Frederick Gough: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the burden imposed on a large proportion of office workers by the recent increase in the cost of season tickets; and if he will direct the Board of Inland Revenue to allow the cost of annual season tickets, to and from the place of employment, to be charged against Income Tax as a normal business expense.
