§ 4. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Aviation why private civil airlines in Great Britain fix a limit of £3,000 compensation to dependants of passengers killed in accidents when British European Airways' limit is £6,000.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aviation (Mr. Neil Marten)Under existing legislation, United Kingdom air carriers are generally entitled to limit their liability in the event of death or injury to some £3,000 per passenger. There is, however, nothing to stop them voluntarily making settlements in excess of this figure.
§ Mr. BoydenWill the hon. Gentleman use his influence to see that they come up to the B.E.A. figure? Is it not grossly unfair to the travelling public that private airlines should pay less compensation than is paid by a nationalised airline?
§ Mr. MartenI agree that the figure of £3,000 is too low, and I hope that the example set by B.E.A. will be followed by other airlines; but I must point out that the delay involves matters under The Hague Protocol and the Warsaw Convention. There is a quite complicated legal reason why we have not yet settled this question.