§ 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 whether they will make a statement concerning the continuance of check-in facilities at the British Airways terminal in Buckingham Palace Road.
§ Lord LOVELL-DAVISMy Lords, understand that British Airways intends to retain indefinitely the present check-in facilities at the Buckingham Palace Road terminal. Since my noble friend Lady Burton, who has played such an important rôle on behalf of airline passengers, was pressing for "an indefinite retention" when she raised this matter in your Lordships' House on 13th June last year, I hope that the Answer I am able to give will please her.
§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYMy Lords, it is certainly a better Answer than I have ever had before. May I ask the Minister whether he is aware that of course I did not table this Question without what seemed to me to be adequate reasons? Arising from that, may I ask him whether, in view of what happened at the West London air terminal, we can be given an assurance that no arbitrary decision will be taken to withdraw these facilities at Buckingham Palace Road without the relevant consumer opinion being consulted?
§ Lord LOVELL-DAVISMy Lords, I cannot speak for British Airways, but I am sure they will take these matters into consideration. The noble Baroness is a member of the Airline Users' Committee. 1400 If any such questions should arise, by that time the new National Consumer Council will no doubt be in full operation, and I am sure that it will take an interest in the matter.
§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord.
Earl FERRERSMy Lords, while some of us are glad to see the noble Baroness returning to her old hobbyhorse and "having a go" at somebody else, can the noble Lord tell us whether the decision to continue the check-in facilities at the air terminal was made by British Airways alone, or was it the result of Government pressure upon British Airways?
§ Lord LOVELL-DAVISNo, my Lords, there was no Government pressure. This was entirely a decision of British Airways. The Buckingham Palace Road terminal is an important facility; 60 per cent. of overseas traffic goes through it and of course it is important that these facilities should be kept as part of the long haul service.