HL Deb 03 November 1975 vol 365 cc863-5

2.57 p.m.

Lord MERRIVALE

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 (a) whether IATA Resolution 810e (which deals with Inclusive Tours) applies to Gibraltar, under the provisions of the United Kingdom Cabotage Air Passenger Tariff which states that "unless the context otherwise requires" it shall apply, and (b) whether this Resolution is referred to where it is stated under SGIT arrangements that "Normal Inclusive Tour Rules" apply.

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, the authoritative interpretation of the terms of air service licences issued by the Civil Aviation Authority is a matter for the courts, but my honourable friend intends to draw the attention of the Chairman of the Authority to the noble Lord's Question.

Lord MERRIVALE

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that reply. In view of the fact that the representations of the Gibraltar Government which were put forward to the Government on 10th October were to have been considered and commented on before the end of the month, can the noble Lord say what is the result of the CAA comments which were forwarded to the Government? Can I take it that a "sponsoring member" regarding an inclusive tour means the participating IATA member and that it is he who will be solely responsible for approving the tour literature and for executing the air tour certificate between the United Kingdom and Gibraltar and vice versa?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, any exchange between the Gibraltar Government and another organisation is in confidence and I feel sure that the noble Lord would not wish me to comment on it. As regards the noble Lord's second point, this is a highly complex matter and if the noble Lord cares to put down another Question when my honourable friend has had a chance of studying his Question, I may be able to give a satisfactory answer.

Lord LEE of NEWTON

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that, when the arrangements were made in 1956 for tours to be diverted—previously tours had been Gibraltar to Spain—the arrangement was an inclusive tour starting with three or four days in Gibraltar and going across the Straits to the North African side, so that, in that sense, it certainly was an inclusive tour?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I believe my noble friend has touched on part of the nub of the matter, but this is not a simple question.

Lord THOMAS

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that IATA is mainly concerned with the scheduled services and that inclusive tour matters are a highly complicated commercial undertak ing which is looked after by the Civil Aviation Authority?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord and I believe we had better let the CAA deal with it.