HL Deb 22 March 1972 vol 329 cc673-4
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 in a position to make a Statement on the introduction of cheaper air fares in Europe; and whether they will state when reservations were first made for such flights.]

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD DRUMALBYN)

My Lords, the airlines have not yet reached final agreement, but there is a good prospect that new kinds of low fares will be introduced shortly on the London to Paris route and on routes between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Travel at these new fares will only be bookable a short time before the journey commences and therefore no reservations at these fares can yet be made.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, does the noble Lord recall that on January 25 when I asked him about these cheaper fares being made available in Europe, he said to me: I do not think that the noble Baroness need have any anxieties as yet about that matter. There is some time for manoeuvre."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 25/1/72, col. 266.] As the Government have now had two months for manœuvre, can we be told how much longer they will require before the travelling public may have specific information about these individual excursion fares?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, as the noble Baroness is aware, it is not the Government that needs time for manœuvre. Time has been taken up in getting agreement in IATA. I am told that agreement on what I have been talking about now seems very close and there is every hope that it will come into effect by April 1 of this year.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, can the noble Lord tell the House whether the general public will be given some publicity about this matter? Would he not agree that it is a little hard on people if they have paid more expensively than they need?

LORD DRUMALBYN

Well, my Lords, in this case I am sorry to say that the fares on the European side are likely to be higher after April 1, apart from the IPEX fares. The matter of publicity is generally carried out, as the noble Baroness knows, in the form of a Press announcement by the airlines and it is carried through their normal commercial channels.

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