§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy 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 have any plans for recommending to the International Air Transport Association a system by which the considered views of passengers and would-be passengers may be adequately considered by member airlines along with those of the Association.]
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, the Government believe that consumer bodies would do best to make their representations to Governments, who have the ultimate responsibility for approving the agreements reached by members of the International Air Transport Association. In due course, if the Bill at present before Parliament becomes law, the Civil Aviation Authority will also have a role to play in these matters. The Government will ensure that the Civil Aviation Authority will not only receive representations but actively seek them.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, in reply to both points, may I ask the Minister whether, when the Civil Aviation Authority is set up, the Government will consider appointing an Ombudsman or a skilled advocate to deal with consumer matters? Would he agree that the skilled advocacy necessary to argue these matters is generally to be found only on one side, and that if they could agree to such an appointment it would give much satisfaction?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, it is certainly the Government's intention to try to see that air fares are kept as low as possible. I will certainly pass on to my right honourable friend the observations which the noble Baroness has made.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, I had not—for a change—intended asking a question on air fares but perhaps I may ask the noble Earl whether I am correct in stating that while, in another place, much attention was given to other matters during discussions on this Bill, there is nothing written into it, as it now appears, which would guarantee enforcement of the sentiments expressed?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, first of all I apologise to the noble Baroness: I had assumed that it was air fares that lay behind her Question. I think in fact that she is not quite right in what she says, because the Civil Aviation Bill provides, in Clause 3(2) for the Secretary of State to give guidance to the Civil Aviation Authority, with which the Authority will have a statutory duty to comply. Such guidance, among other things, is intended to make clear that the Authority will consult as widely as possible with all those who are interested.
§ LORD THOMASMy Lords, does the noble Lord realise that there are already a multiplicity of channels for the exchange of views between passengers and would-be passengers and the Committee of IATA, which is the airlines' association's own conference?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords I quite agree with my noble friend. But one of the difficulties is that the International Air Transport Association is an association of air transport operators; and for that reason it is better for consumer representation to be made to Governments, who have the ultimate responsibility for deciding air fares.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, could the noble Lord say what happens to all those forms which air passengers are asked to fill in during their flight—what is their ultimate fate?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, although I have no knowledge of what happens to them en route, I dare say that they end up in the wastepaper basket.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, would the noble Earl be good enough to reply to my question and say whether, when the Civil Aviation Authority is established here, the Government will consider giving one member of it special responsibility for consumer affairs? Is he aware that it is not just a matter of consumer organisations making representations, but that the expertise necessary to present these representations to the Authority is possessed only by a qualified person?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, I apologise to the noble Baroness. I thought I had answered her question when I said that I would her observations to the attention of my right honourable friend.