HL Deb 14 December 1977 vol 387 cc2109-11

2.35 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 amend the Customs and Excise regulations so that drinks may be served on aircraft at international airports once the aircraft doors have been shut.

The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of the ENVIRONMENT (Baroness Birk)

No, my Lords; the prohibition on the issue of duty-free stores to passengers while an aircraft is on the ground in the United Kingdom is essential for effective and economic revenue control.

Lord ORR-EWING

My Lords, while thanking the noble Baroness for that reply, may I ask whether she could be a little more yielding on this matter? Is she aware that, during the air traffic controllers' strike, many thousands of British and overseas visitors were incarcerated in sealed aircraft for hours on end? The cost in lost revenue must be minute compared with the loss of good will. It does not make sense that, in such instances, perhaps after a given period, drinks should not be served to so many of these people who are coming from overseas? Could she not be a little more forthcoming?

Baroness BIRK

Yes, certainly, my Lords. In certain circumstances the Customs do exercise their discretion in allowing free drinks to be served before take-off in order to reduce the hardship to passengers. That is exactly what has happened when there have been long delays because of the air traffic control difficulties. In fact, I myself have been the recipient of a drink while the plane was waiting on the runway; so it is possible. But there has to be a certain control here, otherwise one would have one large duty-free bar all over the tarmac.

Lord ORR-EWING

My Lords, while the noble Baroness might have been specially favoured because of her good looks and ministerial rank, many of us and our friends found ourselves sitting for hours without any amelioration of that rule. Perhaps she could be a little more forthcoming and say what percentage of aircraft were allowed to open their bars, because I know of very few instances where it was done, and I think the House would be interested to know.

Baroness BIRK

My Lords, it is left entirely to the captain to signal the control tower and to get a concession from Customs. One of the problems is that, if it is likely that a plane could suddenly be given the all-clear to take off, both on the aircraft and within the company—for safety and other reasons—they dislike very much having stewards and stewardesses going along the aisles, and tins or bottles being around. So the concession is asked for where the captain knows that the delay will last for quite a long time. May I say to the noble Lord that there have been no appeals to us, or to Customs and Excise, from any air companies asking for this concession to be extended permanently.

Lord SEGAL

My Lords, is it not the fact that soft drinks are served in aircraft before they are airborne without any restriction at all? Could not passengers be urged to wait for their alcohol until the aircraft become airborne?

Baroness BIRK

My Lords, they generally have to.

Viscount ST. DAVIDS

My Lords, may I support the Government in this matter and ask a question as one who has great experience of this matter from the point of view of boats. The Customs and Excise licence does grant one permission to serve alcoholic drinks as soon as one is on a genuine voyage—which means starting. As the noble Baroness has so eloquently expressed it, is it not right that, in these cases where starting is delayed, the matter is up to the captain of the aircraft, with people moving about in the aircraft? Would she not agree that surely her position is entirely correct?

Baroness BIRK

Yes, my Lords. I certainly agree that I am right. The noble Viscount is absolutely correct, and if a further concession were given on equity grounds this would really have to apply to vessels as well. In answer to the question of the noble Lord, Lord Orr-Ewing, to which I did not reply, the estimated amount of potential revenue which would be lost if there were a duty-free bar would be in the region of £200 million. So that any concession means an extension of this loss, and we have to remember that.

Lord CAMPBELL of CROY

My Lords, can the noble Baroness confirm or deny that, when the message sent from the control tower to the captains is a favourable one, it is "Splice the mainbrace"?

Baroness BIRK

My Lords, I do not know. I think that the noble Lord has an advantage over me.