§ 41. Mr. N. Nicolsonasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make representations to the International Civil Aviation Organisation that 1049 the present air route recommended to civil aircraft flying between Brindisi and Athens passes too close to the Albanian frontier, and that the route should be realigned to pass further south; and whether he will recommend to the International Civil Aviation Organisation that all international air route maps shall mark Albania as a territory over which it is prohibited to fly.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI am looking into this question. I will have the matter raised at an I.C.A.O. regional meeting which is to take place later this month, but any change in the alignment of the route is likely to present technical difficulties.
§ Mr. NicolsonDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that the recent accident involving a British Skymaster which was forced down in Albania might not have had such, a happy conclusion if it had involved, say, a British aircraft coming back from Cyprus with uniformed troops on board? Would not he agree that it would be a change for the better for everybody concerned if the air route could be taken further away from the frontier, and pilots instructed not to fly anywhere near Albania?
§ Mr. WatkinsonAs I know my hon. Friend knows, all these things have to be done by international agreement, and I have said that I will have it looked at.