§ 4. Mr. Neubertasked the Secretary of State for Trade when he next expects to meet the Chairman of British Airways to discuss "Civil Aviation. Policy Guidance".
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Trade (Mr. Clinton Davis)My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans for such a discussion.
§ Mr. NeubertWill the hon. Gentleman point out to the Chairman of British Airways at the earliest opportunity that the surplus of £71,000 on package holiday sales of £30 million is a profit on turnover of less than one-quarter of 1 per cent.? Following a year in which inflation reached 26.9 per cent., that represents a substantial loss in real terms. To emulate Clarksons by seeking to achieve expansion by accepting sales at a loss is not likely in the long run to be in the best interests of the British taxpayer or holidaymaker.
§ Mr. DavisThe hon. Gentleman adopts an ambivalent attitude on these matters. I recall that during the Consolidated Fund Bill debate on 4th August he was calling for a restriction upon the commercial aggressiveness, to use the description given by his hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle), of British Airways' activities. He was calling for a restriction rather than an enhancement of the commercial aggressiveness of British Airways. I do not accept his conclusions.
Mr. WellsWill the hon. Gentleman arrange to discuss at an early opportunity the problems of aviation relating to crop spraying, about which there is considerable difficulty at present?
§ Mr. DavisThat is also a matter which the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority has under review.