HC Deb 22 November 1976 vol 919 cc1871-2
19. Mr. McCrindle

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the progress being made in the negotiations aimed at reducing the scale of air fares in Europe.

Mr. Clinton Davis

No intergovernmental negotiations are taking place. However, the Civil Aviation Authority, which has responsibility for these matters in the United Kingdom, has recently announced its intention of conducting a public consultation early next year on the level of normal economy fares between this country and the rest of Europe. The United Kingdom is also participating in a study of intra-European air fares in general which is being conducted by the European Civil Aviation Conference.

Mr. McCrindle

Although I welcome the CAA's initiative, may I ask whether the Minister agrees that the difficulty is likely to be that any agreement that may be reached as a result of these investigations will have to be agreed with all the European operators? In these circumstances, will the Government give any consideration to the possibility of bilateral agreement between this country and selected operators in Europe?

Mr. Davis

I think we must seek overall agreement, if that is reasonably possible, within a reasonable time scale. We shall give consideration to the hon. Gentleman's point if it is clear beyond any doubt that no such agreement will be forthcoming.

Mr. Freud

As no one really believes that the price of air fares will come down, will the hon. Gentleman at least do something about making London Airport slightly less inefficient than it now is? In world aviation there is no question that one waits longer for luggage in London than anywhere else and finds it harder to meet anyone than anywhere else and harder to park than anywhere else.

Mr. Davis

The hon. Gentleman may realise when he considers these matters a little more profoundly that I am not responsible for the operation of Heathrow Airport. I suggest that he communicates not with the CAA but with the British Airports Authority. The hon. Gentleman has a lot to learn.

Mr. Donald Stewart

Is the hon. Gentleman prepared to take action to secure fairer charges by British Airways within the United Kingdom, the cost per mile from Stornoway, in my constituency, to Glasgow being double the cost from Glasgow to London?

Mr. Davis

That is a matter essentially to be determined between the CAA and the British Airports Authority.