§ Lord MERRIVALEMy 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 what is the present position regarding air transport between this country and the Republic of Senegal, and, with a view to promoting development and co-operation in that field, when it is intended to implement the Agreement signed in Dakar on 20th May 1974 and contained in Cmnd. 5953.
§ Lord BESWICKMy Lords, although the procedures for ratification of this Agreement have not yet been completed, arrangements have been made for services to be operated on a provisional basis in the interim, and British Caledonian Airways have been operating 1020 a weekly service between London and Dakar since November 1974.
§ Lord MERRIVALEMy Lords, I should like to thank the Minister for his Answer. What is the state of negotiations regarding the introduction of an air service between Dakar and London by Air Afrique, because, as the noble Lord said, there is a weekly service and at the moment the frequency cannot be increased until Air Afrique introduce a service from Dakar to London? What stage have negotiations reached? Secondly, can he say whether there are any negotiations going on with a view to obtaining intermediate traffic rights, because—in view of the Lomé Convention and for other reasons—it is desirable for us to extend rapidly our air services into West Africa and Central Africa.
§ Lord BESWICKMy Lords, as to the first part of the noble Lord's question, there are no negotiations at all. None is required. It is now up to the Senegalese Government to ratify this Agreement and to designate their carrier. My under-standing is that Air Afrique have not applied to operate on the route. There is no reason why they should not do so. So far as the second part of the question is concerned, perhaps the noble Lord will put it down and I will try to answer it.