§ 2.37 p.m.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government which countries have ratified the Euro-control Convention; which countries have so far failed to do so, and why; and what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to keep Parliament informed of policy decisions and action proposed or taken by Eurocontrol.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)My Lords, the answer to the first part of the noble Lord's Question is that four countries have so far ratified the Eurocontrol Convention—namely, Luxembourg, Belgium, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The remaining two countries who have yet to ratify are France and the Federal German Republic. It is not for Her Majesty's Government to give the reasons why these two countries have not yet taken this step. In reply to the third part of the Question, there is nothing I can add to my noble friend Lord Denham's reply to the noble Lord's Question on February 21 this year, except to say that the instrument of ratification by the United Kingdom was deposited with the Belgian Government on August 3, 1962.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that Lord Denham's Answer was a singularly unsatisfactory one, and that his Answer to-day on the third part of the Question is no better? Would the noble Lord not agree that in fact on this important subject there is virtually no Parliamentary control whatsoever, either over the vast expenditure of money or over policy?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I find it difficult to relate that last comment to the third part of the Question. I do not know what the noble Lord expects Her Majesty's Government to have told the House in the meantime. Only one thing has happened. I must point out to him that as that ratification took place just after the House went into Recess, this 108 is the first day on which anything could conveniently have been said, and that because Questions, of which he has put down one, are the first Business of the Day, it is difficult to see how the statement I should otherwise have made could have preceded the noble Lord's Question.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, the Government could make proposals—that is the Question asked. So far as I am aware (and the noble Lord will correct me if I am wrong), they have made no proposals, either to the House or elsewhere, about how they are going to deal with this important matter.
§ LORD CHESHAMNo, my Lords, I think that it would be premature to do so, because the permanent Commission and Agency to operate the Eurocontrol Convention does not come into being until such time as the Convention is ratified by the countries concerned. As I have said, two countries have yet to ratify, and therefore it is difficult to put forward hypothetical proposals.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, would my noble friend refresh our memories as to what the Eurocontrol Convention consists of?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I could do so, but I do not know whether that really arises out of the Question.
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I trust that it is not going to become customary for noble Lords to wish to have their memories refreshed in all respects at Question Time. Briefly speaking, the control was one between six countries in Europe. The policy and performance of the Agency to be sat up is to provide air traffic services, to prevent collisions, to ensure rapid and orderly flow of traffic, to provide advice and information useful for the safe and efficient conduct of flights, to install the necessary facilities and to ensure their satisfactory operation in doing so.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, now that the noble Lord has refreshed the memory of the House as to the meaning of this Convention may I ask, in view of the considerable delay in ratification, 109 whether we can take it from Her Majesty's Government that they are bringing the utmost pressure to bear upon the two countries which have not yet ratified this Convention?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, yes. We are anxious that this Convention should come into being and are quite prepared to do all we can to persuade these countries to ratify. But I cannot (because Her Majesty's Government are not answerable for the actions of other Governments) give the reasons why they have not done so. Such information as I have indicates that with any luck the Convention will be ratified by the spring of next year. And the sooner it is in operation the better.