HL Deb 08 June 1976 vol 371 cc467-9

2.37 p.m.

Lord ORR-EWING

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 whether they will now make a senior Cabinet Minister responsible for negotiating a supersonic Concorde route across India so that United Kingdom—Australian flights can be started.

The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of INDUSTRY (Lord Melchett)

My Lords, these negotiations are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Trade and he is working to secure an appropriate route to Melbourne.

Lord ORR-EWING

My Lords, if the Secretary of State for Trade is too busy, may I ask whether the Government would consider putting in charge somebody who is well known in India and who is deeply respected there, because these negotiations really should be pressed on with? They are of supreme importance to the future of our civil aviation industry and to Concorde as well. Will the noble Lord consider this matter with an open mind because we on this side of the House are as anxious as he is to get a final agreement so that we can open the Concorde route to Australia?

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, I am sure that the Government are always prepared to consider anything which will aid the negotiations with the Indian Government over this difficult question. However busy the Secretary of State for Trade may be, I think I can assure the noble Lord that he is taking a close interest in this matter: and the then Secretary of State for Trade, when he was in India recently, took the opportunity to have discussions with the relevant Ministers in the Indian Government about it.

Lord THOMAS

My Lords, is the Minister aware that this Question is immensely topical? Is he aware that in the days when I was trying to sell Comets to Australia and India we did not get the backing we needed? Is he aware that Concorde is not getting the full backing that it needs to get this route to the Antipodes? Will he please do something about it?

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, I am not aware that Concorde is not getting the backing it needs and I do not think there is any evidence to support the noble Lord's statement in that respect.

Lord LEATHERLAND

My Lords, reverting to the original Question, may I ask whether it is not a fact that, owing to the very high standards of excellence of all the members of the Cabinet, it would be very difficult to discriminate and choose such a Minister?

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, will the Government remind the Indians that we are a major contributor to the aid provided to that sub-continent and that we shall hardly be able to continue that aid if the Concorde project among others is not allowed to proceed?

Lord ORR-EWING

My Lords, have any complaints been received either from the Mediterranean or Middle East countries as a result of the supersonic flying to Bahrein? Do the Government still have an open mind, as they said previously they had, about supersonic flying over this country in the more thinly populated areas if the threats of serious trouble from booms continue to diminish, as they currently are diminishing?

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, I can tell the noble Lord that we have not received any official complaints from the countries where there are supersonic overflights on the route to Bahrein: namely, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. As the noble Lord pointed out, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade has said that while as yet there have been no requests to Her Majesty's Government for a supersonic corridor over this country, certainly we should consider any requests were any to be made to us.