HL Deb 16 April 1973 vol 341 cc895-6

2.38 p.m.

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 it is correct that B.O.A.C. intend to withdraw check-in facilities at their air terminal in Buckingham Palace Road.

EARL FERRERS

No, my Lords. But I understand that B.O.A.C. are considering adjusting the times during which these facilities are available at the Victoria terminal to take account of current demand for them.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, is the noble Earl aware that at least I am glad that the answer is still "No"? May I ask him whether notice will be given of these different timing requirements in the near future, and whether the facilities will be allowed to run on through the summer, which is usually the busy time?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, no particular date has been announced for these changes. I can assure the noble Baroness that care will be taken of the particular matter she has in mind.

LORD HARVEY OF PRESTBURY

My Lords, in view of the fact that both Air Corporations are merging within the next year, will my noble friend say why B.O.A.C. is keeping its London terminal open while B.E.A. is closing its terminal? Surely there should be rationalisation between the two Corporations?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, the requirements for travellers with B.E.A. and for travellers with B.O.A.0 are different, in so far as one is a short-haul airline carrying a lot of people and the other is a long-haul airline where the quantities of luggage, and so forth, are very much greater.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, the noble Earl is getting himself in a tangle. Is he not aware that some of the B.E.A. flights are very long—they go to Beirut and the Far East? May I ask whether he recalls the point made by my noble friend Lady LlewelynDavies the other day, which was to the effect that Pam Am advertised check-in facilities as being an additional draw for customers? Why is it that B.E.A. thinks there is no need to service customers in this particular way?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, the original Question was about B.O.A.C., and I can assure the noble Baroness that B.O.A.C. also take great pride in the fact that they have check-in facilities at the Victoria Air Terminal. That is the reason why they are hoping to continue them.

BARONESS EMMET OF AMBERLEY

My Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether he is aware that I cannot possibly afford to have two different sets of luggage, one for B.O.A.C. and the other for B.E.A.?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, I think my noble friend would find it rather difficult to be travelling on two different aircraft at the same time.