§ 3.14 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT THURSOMy Lords, I beg to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received an assurance from the Soviet Government that they are not discriminating in the matter of direct flights between Moscow and the capitals of other countries, against our nationalised corporation and in favour of the private companies of other countries; and what stage the negotiations have reached with the Soviet Government about direct flights between London and Moscow.]
305§ THE EARL OF SELKIRKMy Lords, the only air lines operating to Moscow from outside the Iron Curtain are the Scandinavian air line, S.A.S., and the Finnish air line, Finnair. Last May the Soviet Government also issued an invitation to the American air line, Pan-American Airways, to discuss the establishment of services to Moscow. In November of last year, British European Airways entered into negotiations with the Russian air line, Aeroflot, and an inter-line agreement was reached by which the two air lines are enabled to sell through-tickets which will be valid on the air line of the other operator. Last month an invitation was issued by Her Majesty's Government to the Soviet authorities to discuss the possibility of the establishment of a direct link between London and Moscow. Although a formal reply has not been received by Her Majesty's Government, we none the less hope that these negotiations will take place shortly. In these circumstances, it is. I think, premature to make any comment on possible difficulties, referred to in the early part of the Question, which have not yet arisen and which I see no reason to suppose ever will arise.
§ VISCOUNT THURSOMy Lords, while thanking the noble Earl for his Answer, will he agree that an arrangement for joint working of a route between London and Moscow, and between a Russian company and a British air corporation, would be no substitute for direct flights between London and Moscow? Will he also urge upon the Soviet Government— I am not asking him to do so to-day, but when he thinks the time is right—that to deny to a British air corporation facilities which are now being granted, as he tells us, to two other companies and which have been offered to a third company, would be discrimination which would be justly resented in this country?
§ THE EARL OF SELKIRKMy Lords, I appreciate the noble Viscount's point, but I think he is going a little far. What I have said is that air lines from the Scandinavian countries and from Finland are operating. Their relations with the Soviet Union have always been very different from those of the other Western European Powers, and, so far as I know, no other Western European Power has yet arranged the organisation of a route; nor do we know that that is to happen. So 306 it will be seen that at the present time these matters are all in the future. I would agree, however, with the first part of the noble Viscount's question—namely, that it would be much more satisfactory to have a direct link, rather than a link running through two lines through some European country.
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, whilst everyone, I think, appreciates the admirable work done by our air department in this matter, would the noble Earl address himself to one of the obstacles—namely, the possible intervention of the West German Government in their attempt to boycott the East German Government in regard to the airfield at Schönfeld?
§ THE EARL OF SELKIRKMy Lords, the elements of that question strike me rather as being related to foreign policy, and not strictly dealing with the subject of airlines. I am not aware that there is any substantial difficulty of that. kind which would prevent a direct link between London and Moscow.