HL Deb 08 April 1971 vol 317 cc409-11
LORD O'NEILL OF THE MAINE

My 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 whether they realise that B.E.A.'s recent increase on domestic fares has placed a further burden on those in the United Kingdom who live a long way from the chief centres of population.]

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, the increases in domestic fares which apply to all domestic airlines were necessary to enable them to continue to operate and develop the network of domestic services. Without them there would have been a real risk of some services having to be reduced or even closed down. The changes represent very small increases in real money terms.

LORD O'NEILL OF THE MAINE

My Lords, are the Government aware that. in so far as my own part of the world is concerned, in addition to the increase in ordinary fares, what are known as the cheap night fares—that is, fares for those travelling on the mail plane—are being abolished because B.E.A. are introducing special mail planes, and that this will be a further hardship on Northern Ireland?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, I was not personally aware of the fact which my noble friend has mentioned, but Her Majesty's Government were.

LORD INGLEWOOD

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether it is necessary for Her Majesty's Government to give approval of increases of fares by B.E.A. and B.O.A.C.?

LORD DENHAM

Yes, my Lords. There is a regular procedure in these cases. First of all, application for increase of fares is made to the Air Transport Licensing Board. In this case it was turned down, and then my right honourable friend appointed an appeal commissioner to look into the whole facts of the case. The appeal commissioner reported on March 26, and I think it may be of interest and for the convenience of your Lordships if I place a copy of his report, giving his entire reasons, in the Library.

LORD O'NEILL OF THE MAINE

My Lords, are the Government aware that the air service from Northern Ireland to London is our lifeline? Advertisements are to be seen all over the Underground in London: "Why not travel by the overground to Edinburgh in under six hours?" We in Northern Ireland have not such a facility. This, as I say, is our lifeline. We are 300 miles from London, and Edinburgh is 400 miles from London; yet we have to pay exactly the same fare as the Scottish people. So this is a further burden for us, on top of the burden imposed on the Scottish people.

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, I quite appreciate that; but as I said in my original Answer, without these increases there would have been a real risk that some services would have to be cut down; and the services more likely to be cut down would be those to the more out-of-the-way places which do not pay so well.

LORD WYNNE-JONES

My Lords, is the increasing profitability of B.E.A. improved by the Government's decision to hive off profitable flights?

LORD PLATT

My Lords, do Her Majesty's Government realise that this rigid devotion to the principle that everything has to pay can have serious repercussions? For instance, in the academic and medical world, I am sure that it influences recruitment to Queen's University, Belfast.

LORD DENHAM

Yes, my Lords; of course the Government realise that. There are always disadvantages if fares are allowed to be put up in this way, but one has to balance one set of disadvantages against another.