British Airways (Hansard, 24 July 1978)

§ 5. Mr. Neubert
asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects next to meet the chairman of British Airways.

§ Mr. Dell
No date is fixed.

§ Mr. Neubert
Will the right hon. Gentleman accept that the Government's decision to allow British Airways to exercise its commercial judgment and purchase 19 Boeing 737s is to be welcomed? In connection with that principle, can he say whether a British Airways order for the B10 airbus will be a condition for a British share of the manufacture of that aircraft?

§ Mr. Dell
We thought that it was right to permit British Airways to purchase the 1125 19 737s. As to any British contribution to the B10 and the association of British Airways with any such arrangement, I must make it clear that the Government have no power to require British Airways to purchase aircraft, and one would expect, therefore, that the independence of British Airways in this respect would remain unchallenged.

§ Mr. MacFarquhar
Will my right hon. Friend ask the chairman of British Airways whether he is satisfied with the discussions between the Department of Trade, the Home Office, the British Airports Authority and the British Tourist Authority on the subject of speeding up the processing of British Airways passengers, among others, when they come through London Airport? Would my right hon. Friend suggest, through the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, that it might be possible that when large numbers of foreign tourists arrive at Heathrow they should be processed equally through the British passport holders desk, past which no one is usually coming?

§ Mr. Dell
I am certainly very concerned about delays in passing passengers through Heathrow Airport. It is a serious matter. We are looking into it. There are many aspects to it, including the number of immigration officers. Nevertheless, it presents great difficulties. I know that the British Airports Authority is very much concerned about it and is doing what it can.

§ Mr. Tebbit
As the Secretary of State correctly observes that he has no power to require British Airways to order or to purchase aircraft, will he say what exactly is the status of the commitment to look at a purchase of further BAC111 aircraft? Is it a commitment that the right hon. Gentleman expects will be translated into a purchase, or was it just another little piece of window dressing to please his hon. Friends below the Gangway?

§ Mr. Dell
Certainly I expect that it will be converted into a purchase. The hon. Member may have seen the statement of Mr. Ross Stainton following my announcement.

§ Mr. Dalyell
May I ask what was either urgent or pressing about legislation to have an organisation setting one set of 1126 rules for one end of the shuttle at Heathrow, and another institution framing another set of rules for the other end of the shuttle, at Edinburgh and Glasgow?

§ Mr. Dell
My hon. Friend may be absolutely right. There may be nothing urgent about that particular provision in the legislation to which he refers and of which he is so fond. Nevertheless, the legislation generally may have been urgent.

§ Mr. Nott
I am sure that the Secretary of State would agree with me that a General Election is possibly not very far removed. Bearing that in mind, does he think that it is sensible for the Government to rush into firm contracts—I emphasise "firm contracts"—in a whole host of aerospace procurement areas at a moment when a different party is likely to be in power within the next few months? I am not referring now to the British Airways order for Boeings as such; I am referring to further contracts which are being mentioned in the press with regard to the 757 and others. Does the Secretary of State think that it is sensible for an outgoing Government to enter into firm contracts at this particular stage of a Parliament?

§ Mr. Dell
I understand from the hon. Gentleman's question that an incoming Government of his complexion might trammel British Airways' freedom in this respect. As to the proposed contracts under negotiation, it would certainly damage British interests considerably if there were unnecessary delays in making decisions about these matters. I think that it would be intolerable for this country to lose opportunities for collaboration overseas due to delays for which there is no good reason.