§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy 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, in accepting the long-term plans for B.O.A.C. and B.E.A., since September 1 known as the British Airways Group, they paid due regard to consumer problems and what provision, within the group, has been made for dealing with these.
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, it is the responsibility of the British Airways Board and its constituent airlines to give due consideration to consumer problems. The Government are satisfied that within the new group structure the airlines will continue to give high regard to meeting the requirements of the travelling public.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that that is not a satisfactory Answer? Is he aware that I put down this Question because on the matter of the check-in facilities at Gloucester Road B.E.A. originally made a unilateral decision? Does the Minister recall that on this essentially consumer matter travellers, staff, unions and the British Airport Authority were ignored completely; and as that is no pleasant augury for the future would the Minister look into this matter again if I put down a Question later?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, of course I will look into anything about which the noble Baroness puts down a Question. But the British European Airways were perfectly entitled to take what commercial 866 decision they did take over the West London Air Terminal. I would only assure the noble Baroness that the Board consider that it is inappropriate to set up a formalised procedure for dealing specifically with consumer affairs, which should be the concern of everyone working in the British Airways Board. The Board and the airlines are commercial airlines and are in competition with other airlines.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that this shows a complete misunderstanding, certainly of what I am after? Does the Minister recall that during the debate on the Second Reading of the Civil Aviation Bill I asked whether it would be possible for a member of the Board to be responsible, not as a consumer expert but for laying consumer affairs before the rest of the Board, and that I said that this was common practice in business? Will the Minister look at this matter again? It has nothing to do with its being commercial practice or not.
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, I remember the occasion to which the noble Baroness refers, and it might he appropriate if I were to remind her of what my noble friend Lord Carrington said on that occasion:
I have never felt that, in your Lordships' House, it was right to have people here representing some particular interest. I think that, in a sense, if they are representatives what they say is less highly regarded because it is known that they have this particular interest ….".—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 9/7/71; col. 1277–8.]I think that those views in a way accommodate the views which the British Airways Board hold at the moment.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, is the Minister aware that that is exactly what I have said? Does he recall that a minute ago I said that I was not anxious to have someone specifically responsible for consumer affairs but that one member of the Board should take it within his portfolio to deal with these matters?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, that really is the responsibility of the British Airways Board. There are consumer relations departments in each of the airlines covered by the Board and it is up to the Board to assure themselves that the consumers' interests are taken into 867 account. They are commercially operative and I think that they do take them into account.
§ LORD ROYLEMy Lords, I wonder whether I might ask the noble Earl to pay due regard to the consumer interests of your Lordships this week in this House.
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, I have been very concerned with the consumer interests not only of your Lordships' House but, if I may say so, also of myself. I take note of the noble Lord's point, but I think that his question might be more appropriately addressed to the noble Baroness.
LORD INGLEWOODMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether the notices put up by pickets at the doors, saying that they are standing up for the underpaid and the lowly-paid, refer to your Lordships?