HL Deb 29 October 1975 vol 365 cc496-9

2.47 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 what representations have been received from the Gibraltar Government regarding the withdrawal by British Airways of the option of a week-end stay of 3 or 4 nights under "Special Group Inclusive Tour" regulations for the winter period of 1975–76.

The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)

My Lords, representations by the Gibraltar Government about this matter were received in my Department on 10th October and were referred to the Civil Aviation Authority for advice. The Gibraltar Government have been told that we hope to forward comment by the end of this month.

Lord MERRIVALE

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Goronwy-Roberts, for that reply, and for the action taken vis-à-vis the Civil Aviation Authority. But can he say whether, in effect, British Airways have the authority to alter cabotage regulations without consulting the Civil Aviation Authority? If they have not, may I ask whether the CAA were consulted, as they would have to be in the case of IATA resolutions or regulations? Secondly, with regard to air tour certificates for inclusive tours and inclusive tour literature, may I ask the noble Lord whether he can confirm that this must be approved solely by the sponsoring IATA member airline itself?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, I am informed that these arrangements lie outside the IATA procedures and agreements. I am hopeful that the arrangements from the end of this month will substantially provide for the clientele the noble Lord has in mind; that is, that there will be a reasonable Special Group Inclusive Tour.

Lord LEE of NEWTON

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that following the closure of the Spanish frontier the Gibralter Government are faced with grave economic problems? Is he aware that the British Government of the day did an enormous amount, including the investment of large amounts of cash, to ensure that Gibraltar would become economically viable? And is he further aware that the inclusive tour would form a part of that? Therefore, it would be a great tragedy if anything now happened to prevent three or four day visits to Gibraltar, which are of enormous importance to this country as well as to Gibraltar?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Lee of Newton, that Her Majesty's Government over the years have rightly given special provision to assist the people of Gibraltar in their rather difficult situation. However, I would point to the fact that in July, when it was decided to end the present arrangements for the SGIT facilities, it was also decided that as those were phased out the three-night provision would continue, the particular provision to which my noble friend Lord Lee of Newton referred. To that extent, together with other scheduled services which we maintain, I would think that we are serving the interests of the tourist trade in Gibraltar, not perhaps so far as we might wish so to do but to a very considerable extent.

Lord JANNER

My Lords, would my noble friend realise that his Answer will bring a considerable amount of satisfaction to those who have been interested in the relationship between Gibraltar and ourselves? This particular facility, after all, not only results in bringing some economic advantage to Gibraltar but shows the Gibraltese people that we are thinking of them all the time. Will the Government do their best to encourage continuance of this particular facility?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

Yes, my Lords. British Airways, of course, have a statutory obligation to operate as profitably as possible. They will continue to lose considerable sums of money on these facilities, but they will persist with them on the basis that I have described in answer to my noble friend Lord Lee. We are very sensible of the difficulties that confront the people of Gibraltar, and I personally welcome the exchanges in the House this afternoon which will serve to remind everybody concerned that we are well aware of the need to support the Gibraltarians in every possible way.

Lord MERRIVALE

My Lords, the Minister referred to week-ends of three nights, but he omitted to mention what was applicable previously, the four-night week-ends. Does he not feel that if these are withdrawn there will be discrimination against certain tour operators who in effect have only been given four-night week-ends, while I believe it is only Cadogan Travel who have the three night week-end; therefore, they would benefit unfairly in relation to the other tour operators.

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, I take note of what the noble Lord has said, and no doubt the CAA, when they supply me with their observations on this fairly complicated matter, will have noted what the noble Lord has said. I repeat that there is a continuing provision for the three-night stay. This is quite something, considering the very great expense of maintaining these special services.