§ 3.13 p.m.
§ The Earl of KINNOULLMy 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 for a Statement on Laker Airways proposed Skytrain services.
Lord ORAMMy Lords, the Department of Trade was given leave to appeal to this House. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State is considering whether he should do so.
§ The Earl of KINNOULLMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. While I appreciate that the case in question is somewhat sub judice and while not wishing to draw attention to the thundering back luck of the Attorney-General in the Court of Appeal, I wish to ask the noble Lord whether he accepts that there is very wide public interest in Skytrain, which I think was forcefully drawn to the attention of the noble Lord in a debate in this House? Can the noble Lord say whether at present the United States Government are in breach of the Bermuda Agreement as regards Skytrain?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, in view of the fact that my right honourable friend is considering appealing to this House, I do not think it would be helpful for me to go into any points of substance concerning this issue, although I recognise what the noble Earl said about the widespread public interest in this matter.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that, when the other place resumed recently after the Christmas Recess—I think it was on the very day they re-assembled—his honourable friend said that he was going to announce his decision very shortly on whether or not to appeal to your Lordships' House? That is now some two weeks ago, at least. How much longer shall we have to wait? Can the noble Lord say when the period allowed for the lodging of the appeal expires?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, the lodging of an appeal must be made, I think, by mid-March. It is true that my honourable friend said that a decision would be taken quite shortly, and that is the position. I would now say that it will be taken very shortly.
§ Earl AMHERSTMy Lords, can the noble Lord tell us whether the Government are still intent on pressing for single designation on the North Atlantic routes?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, that is a more general policy question which is in the White Paper announcing our policy, and that does still stand.
§ The Earl of KIMBERLEYMy Lords, does the Minister agree that I am right in saying that one of the reasons why Skytrain was refused by the Department of Trade was the fact that it might remove a lot of traffic from the other airlines? Can the Minister confirm that in recent months the traffic on the North Atlantic route has increased by 32 per cent., and that therefore the argument is rather more null and void than it was?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, these are just the questions which I think it would not be appropriate for me to comment upon, in view of the likelihood or the consideration of an appeal to the House.
Earl FERRERSMy Lords, does that mean that the Government have got until mid-March to make up their mind whether or not to appeal, and that until mid-March the matter could remain sub judice?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, it is not technically sub judice, as I understand it, but the Government have until mid-March to lodge the appeal in the House. As I have said, an announcement of the Government's decision in that matter will be made very shortly.
§ The Earl of KINNOULLMy Lords can the noble Lord answer my second supplementary Question which I do not think has anything to do with the sub judice case? The question was whether Her Majesty's Government recognise that the United States Government are in breach of the Bermuda Agreement as regards Skytrain at the present time?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, the Bermuda Agreement is now under re-negotiation, and I do not think that it would help our negotiating team if I gave any categorical answer to the noble Earl on that point.