HL Deb 09 April 1974 vol 350 cc1129-31

2.42 p.m.

LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware that the Italian Government do not at present permit technical landings in Italy by British registered aircraft; and what representations have been made to the Italian Government on this matter.

THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY (LORD BESWICK)

My Lords, I am advised that the Italian Government, in accordance with their obligations under the Chicago Convention, do permit non-scheduled aircraft in transit across Italy to land for technical reasons. They do not however, have any obligation to provide fuel in these circumstances, and have placed a general embargo on landings purely for the purpose of refuelling. The embargo applies to all foreign operators, not only British. This is a considerable inconvenience to some of our operators, and our Embassy in Rome has taken up the matter with the Italian authorities.

LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords, I am greatly obliged to the noble Lord for that reply. Is the noble Lord aware that the fact that the restriction applies equally to other nations will be received with satisfaction among British operators? Is he also aware that the restriction is extremely inconvenient, particularly for smaller operators using less sophisticated aeroplanes?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I understand what the noble Lord, Lord Trefgarne, is saying. He is quite right, of course. Since we have now lifted restrictions on jet fuel for those operators, there is all the more reason why we should be able to press our case on fuel. This is being done.

LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYE

My Lords, can the noble Lord say whether, if there were a non-traffic landing (a technical landing in an emergency) by a British aircraft and there were Italian protests, the whole weight of Her Majesty's Government would be behind the pilot who took that necessary action?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I thought I had made it clear that there is every right to land for technical reasons. The difficulty arises because Italy happens to be on a line of transit to other destinations. The Italians therefore restrict the uptake of fuel where planes land simply for the purpose of taking up fuel.

LORD SHINWELL

My Lords, can the noble Lord say whether, when planes associated with Alitalia arrive at Heathrow and require provisioning and fuelling, that is arranged at Heathrow?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, aircraft operated by Alitalia would, I think, by definition be on a scheduled service. Therefore, this particular difficulty does not arise, but even if a non-scheduled operator landed in this country from Italy, there would be no restriction on jet fuel, kerosene. But I am sure my noble friend is aware that Italy is on a line of route to other places, much more so than we are.

LORD SHINWELL

My Lords, does this indicate what might be called "absolute immunity" between the countries associated with the Nine?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I think it has something to do with the geographical location of Italy.

VISCOUNT GOSCHEN

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether the fuel restrictions on light aircraft are now going to be lifted, or are they still to be kept in force?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Viscount, Lord Goschen, for that supplementary, because I recognise his interest in private flying and light aircraft. I am glad to be able to tell him that as from to-day the voluntary restrictions imposed on the private flier and on light aircraft for business use are being lifted. They are now subject only to the overall limitation of 90 per cent. availability of aviation gasolene.