§ 13. Mr. WilkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement on progress in air service agreement talks between the United States of America and the United Kingdom. [30130]
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe UK and US Governments reached agreement on 5 June on a package of new opportunities for UK and US airlines. We have already started work on the next stage of negotiations with the aim of opening up further opportunities.
§ Mr. WilkinsonMay I tell my right hon. Friend how satisfactory it is that he was able to reach that agreement on 5 June? Will he make it clear to the House that he and Her Majesty's Government refuse to be browbeaten by Transport Commissioner Kinnock, who is attempting to bring European Court actions against nations that have rightly maintained their entitlement to negotiate independent national air service agreements with other countries?
§ Dr. MawhinneyI am grateful to my hon. Friend. Like him, we attach considerable importance to our bilateral negotiations with the United States over many years, which recently proved to be fruitful and on which we intend to build. I insisted at the last Transport Council meeting two weeks ago, before Commissioner Kinnock could carry forward his proposals, that the Council of Ministers' requirement dating back to 1993 should be carried out. It requires the Commission to undertake a study to demonstrate whether it can negotiate on behalf of member states and whether to do so would be advantageous to member states rather than to countries negotiating bilaterally. It also requires the Commission to establish common interest, which would be difficult given that the United Kingdom has 40 per cent. of transatlantic travel and Luxembourg has 0.02 per cent. I am sceptical about whether the Commission will be able to make speedy progress in that regard. In the meantime, I shall continue to defend and advance UK national interest in bilateral discussions with the United States.