§ 2.48 p.m.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will support proposals now being put forward at the Conference of the International Civil Aviation Organisation at Washington to stop airline services to States which harbour those who hijack aeroplanes or those who plan such hijacking or their accomplices.
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, the achievement of international agreement on this problem is a matter of the utmost urgency. We are playing a leading part in the ICAO Conference and will support whatever proposals for effective action, including halting air services and other 327 measures, that the international community is prepared to accept.
LORD JANNERMy Lords, will the noble Baroness instruct those who are attending that Conference to support the proposals that have definitely been put forward by America and Canada, that those States which harbour criminals, which allow them to be trained and which condone the whole of the offences in which they indulge, shall not be granted air service facilities?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, I think I said to the noble Lord, Lord Janner, the other day that the Canadian and American proposals were not very acceptable to a large number of States, and we are to-day putting forward an agreed paper, on behalf of the United States, Canada, the Netherlands and ourselves, for discussion.
§ LORD HARVEY OF PRESTBURYMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that this matter has been urgent for over three years, since almost the first hijacking was of a British H.S.125 which took Mr. Tshombe to Africa, and the Government of the day did nothing at all to get him back? Does my noble friend agree that if the Government cannot act, this matter must be dealt with by the Federation of British World Pilots, who are prepared to do something?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, I understand that the latest proposal has the support of the airline pilots.
LORD JANNERMy Lords, may I again appeal to the noble Baroness that we should set an example ourselves? After all, we are a respected nation; and America and Canada have put forward proposals which, in my view and in the view of many other people, are essential to safeguard civilisation, let alone the air services. Will the noble Baroness again consider supporting those proposals?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, I think time 328 has advanced since those proposals. We have to-day put forward for discussion this agreed proposal, supported by the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada and the Netherlands; and I think that, if we are to get a large number of States to adhere to it, it is better to have an agreed paper on these lines.
§ LORD BYERSMy Lords, it sounds as if some progress is being made. May I ask the noble Baroness when we shall be able to study these proposals?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, I think they have been made public, and without delaying the House too much I would just say that the main part of this proposed paper is that, once it has been decided that there has been an incident (which is the concern of the noble Lord), there should be an automatic suspension of the rights of the defaulting State under the Chicago Convention, the International Air Services Transit Agreement and Bilateral Air Services Agreements between that State and the contracting States to the new Convention. That is the first part.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, the noble Baroness might have saved a great deal of time if she had given that information at the beginning, but we congratulate her and hope that she will have success in this matter.