HC Deb 12 November 1984 vol 67 cc405-6
12. Mr. Sayeed

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he intends to take to increase competition in domestic air services.

Mr. Ridley

The Civil Aviation Authority proposes to introduce on an experimental basis an area licensing facility allowing airlines to serve any domestic route, other than certain excluded routes, and to cease regulating domestic fares. It will shortly publish formal proposals, on which interested parties can then comment. The Government have welcomed the authority's intention of liberalising domestic services.

Mr. Sayeed

I welcome my right hon. Friend's answer. However, does he agree that his policy will be ineffective unless provincial and regional airports are allowed freely and fairly to compete with one another? Will he ensure that Cardiff, for instance, is not allowed to poach work by being given an unfair advantage over Bristol airport?

Mr. Ridley

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his general welcome of the policy, which I am sure is the right one for generating more air travel and cheap air fares. There are no subsidies from the Department of Trade and Industry or from any other central Government source that are made available either to Cardiff airport or Bristol airport. It may be that they are entitled to European regional development fund assistance, but I understand that Cardiff has not made an application for such help. If my hon. Friend has any details of unfairness, perhaps he will let me know and I shall investigate them.

Mrs. Clwyd

Will the Secretary of State confirm that Cardiff airport was designated as the regional airport for Wales and the west of England in the White Paper on air transport?

Mr. Ridley

I am sure that that is correct and I wish it all success. However, designation is not quite the same as subsidisation.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is strong demand for more intercontinental flights to Edinburgh and that, at the same time, there will be strong opposition to flights operating throughout the night?

Mr. Ridley

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for making me aware of those two important facts. They can hardly arise from the context of Cardiff and Bristol airports.