HL Deb 10 April 1974 vol 350 cc1221-2
LORD TREFGARNE

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 they will allow the Civil Aviation Authority to defer the date by which they must achieve financial self-sufficiency, thus mitigating the heavy cost increases now falling on airlines by virtue of the Authority's increased charges.

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

My Lords, when the Policy Guidance to the Civil Aviation Authority was approved by Parliament, it was recognised that if the Authority was to eliminate its deficit by 1977–78 this would involve certain increases in airlines' costs which in turn would have to be passed on to the users. My right honourable friend has to have regard to the interests not only of the users of airlines but also of the taxpayer, and his view is that the target date is still appropriate.

LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Beswick, for that reply, which I fear is no more satisfactory than the one I received from the previous Government on the same subject. Is the noble Lord aware that even in the short period since then costs to airlines from sources outside the control of the C.A.A. have continued to rise sharply? Will he therefore see whether he is able to look at this matter again, particularly in relation to licensing charges, which cause as much irritation as anything else?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, the whole question is being looked at all the time. There is a very considerable deficit, and although I understand the noble Lord's point of view, which I shared with him when the Bill went through Committee in this House, the fact still remains that, as with the last Government, the intention is to recover by 1977 the whole of the costs that are incurred by the operation of the Civil Aviation Authority's services.

VISCOUNT MONCK

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the noble Lord, Lord Feather, whom we have been delighted to welcome here this afternoon, is to-day celebrating his birthday, and would the noble Lord agree that we should convey to him our warmest con-gratulations on a double happy event?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, if there was anything that would merit a stay of the landing charges it would be the fact that my noble friend Lord Feather is enjoying a birthday. I share, and we all share, in those good wishes.