HC Deb 30 November 1970 vol 807 cc892-4
36. Sir J. Langford-Holt

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take steps to refuse facilities at British airports to the aircraft of any country which has given refuge and comfort to hijackers of aircraft in any part of the world.

Mr. Noble

Use of airports for international services is governed by international agreements, and hijacking is an international problem, which I believe is better dealt with by concerted international action on a wide front. Her Majesty's Government are participating in international discussions in which denial of access is one course being examined.

Sir J. Langford-Holt

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this concerted action has been awaited for a long time, and that very little has happened? Is this not one way in which the Government could act quite independently, to advantage? What we fear above all else is that nothing will happen until the next major hijacking incident.

Mr. Noble

I appreciate the fear which my hon. Friend expresses about the dangers of this comparatively new form of hijacking to which we have recently been subjected, but we have acted with our allies and friends in this field very quickly since September. Three or four meetings have been taking place, and one is taking place this week, I think, on the international front. It is essential, where these planes are travelling over and landing at vast numbers of countries, that the action should be taken internationally or it will be no use.

Mr. Mason

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the British Airline Pilots Association and its international counterparts are very keen to see an international aerial piracy convention implemented as quickly as possible? What progress is being made in the United Nations and in the International Civil Aviation Organisation on this topic of aerial piracy? When do we expect to see a convention before us, so that we can implement it ourselves?

Mr. Noble

It is difficult to give the right hon. Gentleman an absolutely categorical answer, but a meeting is taking place in Paris tomorrow at which this will be the main issue. If, as a result of that, a convention comes forward, we shall certainly study it, and I hope that we and many other countries will ratify it quickly. One cannot act much more quickly than that when dealing with a large number of countries and a very difficult problem.

Mr. Jopling

But if the present talks break down without any sensible solution, would my right hon. Friend assure us that he will consider acting unilaterally on the lines that my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury (Sir J. Langford-Holt) suggested?

Mr. Noble

There may be some ways in which we can act internationally, but not, I think, directly in the way suggested by this question.

Mr. Maclennan

While I recognise the impatience that hon. Members have expressed, would the right hon. Gentleman not agree that, since September, there has been major progress internationally, and that there is every reason to believe that the present discussions will be fruitful? Despite that, would the hon. Gentleman not also think it reasonable to press members of I.C.A.O. to sign the Tokyo Convention on crimes committed aboard aircraft, which this country has already ratified?

Mr. Noble

Yes, Sir, I accept that.