§ 3.14 p.m.
§ 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 what percentage of oversales or overbooking is regarded as essential by British Airways; whether this applies to all types of flight and, if not, which are exempt; how many passengers have missed their flight thereby in the past 12 months; and whether such a policy is acceptable from a nationalised undertaking; and if they will make a Statement.
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, I have asked the Chairman of British Airways to write to my noble friend, to provide an explanation of his airline's practice of overbooking on scheduled services. I understand that British Airways, like other international airlines, adopted this practice because experience had shown that a significant proportion of the passengers booked to travel on any particular flight normally failed to take up the reservations made for them. As my noble friend knows, the Civil Aviation Authority is currently reviewing the practice, in consultation with the airlines, and the Government look forward to receiving the Authority's advice in due course.
§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYMy Lords, does the Minister realise that not once in these exchanges has he expressed one word of condemnation or even regret at this practice which deprives people of something for which they have paid, and yet he speaks for a consumer Department? Concerning his Answer, if I may call it such, to my Question today, may I ask whether the noble Lord is aware that it is quite unacceptable? I should like to ask the Lord Privy Seal a question. Is it not the case in both Houses of Parliament that we put down Questions for Answer by the Government and not by people outside the 334 Government? Is he aware that I have no desire to receive any letters from the Chairman of British Airways and is he further aware that in this Question today I have asked for four specific pieces of information, all within the order of such Questions? Am I not entitled to an Answer to those Questions which do not concern only the Chairman of British Airways and myself but all air travellers, all consumer organisations and this Government?
§ Lord SHEPHERDMy Lords, the noble Baroness directs her question to me. I have not had notice of the Question that is on the Order Paper; perhaps I should. However, I understand that this is a matter which deals with one of the public Boards. The responsibility for the everyday conduct of that company belongs to the Chairman and directors. Ministers themselves are not responsible. If that is the case, I should have thought that the Answer of my noble friend was quite generous. He has asked the Chairman to communicate directly with my noble friend. However, in the past my noble friend has pursued—I will not call them vendettas—but cases which have had a good deal of sympathy. If the noble Baroness would care to come to see me—not today but another day—I will see what I can do to help her.
§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYMy Lords, I am sure that the noble Lord the Leader of the House does not wish to be unfair. I object to the term "vendetta". Is the noble Lord aware that over the West London Air Terminal we had the sympathy of this House in a majority vote, that we had the sympathy of everybody except British Airways, and we were ignored. Secondly, I have put down Questions on this matter and I have had Answers to them. Would not the noble Lord agree that it is not my fault if the Questions have become too good and too difficult for the people concerned to answer? I am sorry; I was trying to be brief! If the Lord Privy Seal cannot help me further and thinks that I should have an answer from somebody outside this House, may I ask him whether that answer could be published in the Official Report so that other people may see it as well as myself?
§ Lord SHEPHERDMy Lords, I will look into that. I was, of course, quite 335 wrong to use the word "vendetta"; it was a word that came rather easily to the tongue. I should have said that the noble Baroness has resolutely pursued matters of particular interest to consumer protection.
§ Lord KINNAIRDMy Lords, if Ministers are not prepared to take responsibility for nationalised industries, may I ask the noble Lord the Leader of the House why they nationalise them?