§ 48. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that passengers in British civil aircraft in transit through Kennedy Airport, New York, to onward destinations in the same aircraft are subjected to customs, immigration and health procedures; and whether, in view of the fact that this is contrary to normal international practice, he will ask the United States authorities to desist from this practice.
§ Mr. Willam RodgersYes. The United States authorities have notified the International Civil Aviation Organisation, as they are entitled to do under the Convention, of a difference between their own procedures and those prescribed as a 1280 standard in Annex 9 of the Convention. There is no discrimination against British aircraft or passengers and it would not be appropriate for me to intervene.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterCan the Minister say what useful purpose is served by making transit passengers, whose baggage is safely on their aircraft, go through customs and through immigration procedures in a country into which they do not want to immigrate?
§ Mr. RodgersThat is not really the point. This is a matter of domestic United States law. We may take the view that it creates inconvenience, but as long as the domestic law of the United States takes this form we have no alternative but to conform.