HL Deb 20 June 1972 vol 332 cc148-9
LORD MERRIVALE

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 what is the present position regarding the Malagasy Government's application for landing rights in the Seychelles and whether they would agree that an orderly growth of tourism could best be achieved in that area on a regional basis within the framework of the "Indian Ocean Touristic Alliance".

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORT-FOLIO (LORD DRUMALBYN)

My Lords, the Malagasy Government's application for rights to carry traffic between Nossi Bé and the Seychelles has been refused. Her Majesty's Government believe that the orderly growth of tourism in the Seychelles, for whose future development they have continuing responsibility, can best be achieved by the systematic development of services from the main originating points, including those of British airlines.

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply; but can he say on what grounds the application of the Malagasy Government was turned down? Is he aware also of a paragraph in the 1969 White Paper of the Government of the Seychelles, headed "Tourism Development in the Seychelles", where, under the sub-heading "Airline Policy", it is said that all operators will be welcome in the Seychelles? Later on it says: In the case of scheduled services, the United Kingdom Government is fully aware of the need for an adequate network". Does my noble friend not feel that by refusing an application for an air link between Madagascar and the Seychelles he is not assisting tourism in that area, which is a most attractive and underdeveloped area from the tourist point of view?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, the answer to my noble friend's first question is that traffic prospects between Madagascar and the Seychelles are not great, and this traffic can at present be accommodated by linking services over Mauritius and East Africa. The answer to his second question is that the development of air services has to be kept in line and must keep pace with the planned provision of accommodation in the Seychelles. If we were to allow development of the air services before there was sufficient accommodation for the people who might use those air services, we should be doing a disservice to the Seychelles.

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether any opposition to this proposal of the Malagasy Government was raised by South Africa or France?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, not so far as I am aware. This matter was decided on its merits.