§ 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 they are in a position to make a statement upon discussions which have take place between trade union and staff representatives concerning the proposed withdrawal of check-in facilities at the British Airways West London Air Terminal and, if not, whether they will make a progress report indicating aspects under discussion.
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, British European Airways are considering proposals emerging from the discussions to which the noble Baroness has referred. B.E.A. have in any case decided not to withdraw check-in facilities at West London Air Terminal in the course of 1973.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, while welcoming that respite, may I ask whether the noble Earl could be a little more explicit, because his Answer is rather surprising? I should like to ask whether he recalls that on July 28 he told me that no decision affecting the proposed withdrawal of check-in facilities at Gloucester Road would be reached until the discussions at this particular meeting had been fully considered. While, as I say, welcoming the respite, can the noble Earl say why we have been given this additional period before any such suggestions have been fully considered, and whether we might perhaps hope for a further period, extending until the completion of the rail link?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, the noble Baroness is very hard to satisfy. She will be aware that there are discussions going on with the trade unions, as has been referred to. She will also be aware that there is a study group operating at Heathrow Airport at the moment. I have always told the noble Baroness that British European Airways are constantly concerned to see that the consumers are adequately looked after. This is one example of the way in which the views of consumers have possibly had some effect upon the decisions.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, the noble Earl and I quite obviously both do our homework; but is he aware that I view his last remarks with a little scepticism? However I will leave that. May I thank him for this additional respite and hope that we shall get a longer one.
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, while I am grateful to the noble Baroness for her remarks, I was disappointed to hear her say that my last remarks she viewed with scepticism. They were supposed to have indicated some degree of compliment somewhere. However, I gather she appreciates what has been done.
§ LORD SHINWELLMy Lords, in view of the variety of entertaining questions which my noble friend Lady Burton of Coventry asks with unfailing regularity, would the Government perhaps consider appointing her to a Royal Commission or court of inquiry into the whole subject of what is happening at Heathrow?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, that certainly might make matters a great deal simpler, but I do not think I can give the noble Lord, Lord Shinwell, any guarantee that it will happen.
§ LORD HANKEYMy Lords, as the point which the noble Baroness is making is essentially for the convenience of the passengers, would the Government consider the extraordinary inconvenience which arises from the tremendous shortage of porters? For instance, is the noble Earl aware that at Gatwick, for which there are no check-in facilities in London, it is very difficult to get luggage up to the place where it has to be checked in because, at any rate in the evenings, there are always no porters? Will the 1279 Government be able to see that this consideration is borne in mind when the new arrangements are made for connecting the Airport at Heathrow with the new Underground line?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, the noble Baroness's complaint, of course, has always referred to the West London Air Terminal, coupled vigorously with Heathrow Airport. I think that to extend this complaint to Gatwick would be slightly outside the context of the original Question. The noble Baroness in fact did say the other day—or at least so one gathered —that the effect of her presence at Heathrow was an enormity of trolleys and some porters. I suggest to the noble Lord that when he next goes to Gatwick he should take the noble Baroness with him and see what happens.