HL Deb 13 December 1977 vol 387 cc1972-4

2.44 p.m.

Baroness BURTON of COVENTRY

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 make an interim Statement on the meeting of the working group of the European Civil Aviation Conference held on 6th to 8th December on the question of overbooking compensation.

Lord ORAM

My Lords, at its meeting on 6th to 8th December, the working group considered a paper summarising replies from Member States to a questionnaire on airline overbooking. The working group agreed to put recommendations to the Directors General of Civil Aviation aimed at encouraging an early and comprehensive solution through IATA.

Baroness BURTON of COVENTRY

My Lords, while not being sure whether or not I should be disarmed by that reply, may I ask my noble friend whether he anticipates that in late January we may (a) have a report on that summary, and (b) whether lie hopes this will mean that the whole of an air traveller's ticket may be covered for compensation rather than only half of it. as at present?

Lord ORAM

My Lords, I notice that my noble friend has tabled a further Question which we can consider after the Recess. I think we should await that occasion; but in the meantime I think my noble friend would wish to know—and I hope this may disarm her—that IATA has very recently established a special group to consider the whole matter of no-shows, overbooking and denied boarding compensation. I believe that IATA will be looking for proposals without undue delay. This, and other questions, I suggest to my noble friend, might best be left until after the Recess.

Baroness BURTON of COVENTRY

Yes, my Lords; but does my noble friend realise that I am very well aware of what IATA are doing because they have been kind enough so to inform me? Is he also aware that I am on a separate issue? I am sure that the House recalls—and probably he does too—that I am asking, on the question of compensation for overbooking, whether this may now apply to the whole of a ticket and not just to half of it. Is he furthermore aware that it would be unfortunate if this were muddled up with the whole question of compensation for overbooking, which would take some considerable time to resolve? Could he ensure that in January I get an answer to the specific question I am putting, which refers to the full ticket and not to just half of it?

Lord ORAM

Yes, my Lords, I will make sure that matter is covered in any Answer I give in January. It was of course part of the subject matter of the questionnaire to which my original Answer referred.

Baroness BURTON of COVENTRY

Then I should like to wish my noble friend a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year and hope that I get a good Answer.

Lord ORAM

My Lords, I am most obliged; I am not going on any air journey.

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, in view of the continuing interest in this matter, would it be possible for the document which was recently submitted to the conference referred to by the noble Lord in his original Answer to be placed in the Library?

Lord ORAM

My Lords, that indeed refers to the part of the Question that my noble friend has down for after the Recess. I would say that the working group which considered this paper is a junior part of the machinery of ECAC and I do not anticipate that it will be possible, until the senior body has considered it, to give ally publication to it.