HL Deb 10 February 1972 vol 327 cc1266-7

3.13 p.m.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

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 are now in a position to make a Statement on the further details of the North Atlantic fares structure as agreed originally by IATA in Geneva on December 12 last.]

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORT-FOLIO (LORD DRUMALBYN)

My Lords, we have not yet received by any means all the details of the fares which IATA propose should apply on North Atlantic routes from April 1, and I cannot guarantee that those we have received are absolutely firm. However, it looks as if the London/New York return fares will range from £323.15 first-class, and £226.45 economy class, to £84.05 winter rate for a 22/45 day excursion, plus a surcharge of £5.80 each way for week-end travel. I am sending the noble Baroness a table giving the London/New York and London/Montreal proposed fares and I shall lay a copy in the Library. These fares are subject to the approval of the Governments concerned.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer and I am glad that he is to lay a copy of the table in the Library pending clarification. But may I ask him if I am correct in assuming that the only difference between the passengers using these cheaper services and those paying normal prices is the compulsory minimum length of stay at the destination: in other words, that no advance booking is necessary; that actual dates can be applied for on booking and that the same aircraft will be used for all passengers?

LORD DRUMALBYN

Yes, my Lords, I think this is so, apart from the fact that there is also a maximum period. There is a minimum and a maximum period.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, arising out of that satisfactory reply may I ask the Minister about something which I find difficult to understand? From what he has just said we realise that no advance booking is necessary for these cheaper flights. May I ask the Minister why, speaking on behalf of the Government, he regrets this? Is he not aware that passengers are glad not to have to pay 90 days in advance for a flight they wish to undertake? And why do the Government wish it were otherwise?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, there were so many double negatives in those remarks that I had a little difficulty in following them. All I can say to the noble Baroness is that if she and I were negotiating this no doubt we should be able to reach agreement.

LORD SHEPHERD

Oh!

LORD DRUMALBYN

Well, my Lords, one can always hope. This agreement has been made to cover all the points in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia; many hundreds of fares are involved, and of course all the countries have to agree them.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, I am sure we shall reach agreement one day, and I apologise for the double negatives. Is the Minister aware that on November 25, at column 1226 of the OFFICIAL REPORT of our debate, he said that he regretted that the advance booking period was not going to be necessary for these cheaper North Atlantic fares? That statement has no double negative, and I should like to know why he said that.

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, it is because the advance booking system has worked well between here and the Caribbean.