§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my nome on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are in a position to make a statement, or an interim statement, on the IATA conference commencing in Miami in September last for the purpose of discussing the introduction of cheaper fares in Europe; and whether they support the application made by B.E.A. on this matter.]
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, the conference is still in progress. Agreement has been reached on some areas but it has been decided to leave European fares to be discussed at a further meeting beginning next month, possibly in Geneva. Her Majesty's Government welcome any move that will make low fares more widely available consistent with an improvement in airline revenues, and they support B.E.A. 's proposals to this end.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl for the good news in the last part of his reply. May I ask whether the Government feel able to lend what active support they can on this particular matter as B.E.A. would hope to have these fares in operation for April 1? Would it be right to say that if notice of three or four months had to be given it would then be essential that this is done before Christmas?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, this is a matter of agreement between the airlines concerned. Whether this agreement can be reached depends upon the way they handle their business next month.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, is it not true that if there is co-operation between the Governments at each end of the line, the proposed cheap flights will materialise more quickly?
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, I will leave my reply to that until the next Question.