§ Lord GISBOROUGHMy 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 are satisfied that the United States Skytrain is fair to Laker Airways.
Lord ORAMMy Lords, the Government consider that the conditions attached to the United States permit for Laker Airways Skytrain are both onerous and unreasonable. Nevertheless, Laker Airways have announced that the Skytrain service will start in September.
§ Lord GISBOROUGHMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer, which was not what I expected. May we have an assurance that, in the event that British Airways followed with a similar service, it would be without any form of public funds but on a purely commercial basis?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, consideration will have to be given to other applications for this kind of service. There have been reports of Pan-Am and TWA entering into this kind of business and we shall have to wait until their proposals are finalised.
§ Lord O'HAGANMy Lords, would the Minister think it a good idea if our new Ambassador to the United States travelled on Skytrain to see for himself whether the set conditions are fair?
§ Lord BOYD-CARPENTERMy Lords, will the Government contemplate imposing similarly onerous conditions on any reciprocal American Skytrain service?
Lord ORAMAs I have indicated, my Lords, we shall have to consider any fares filed by the United States airlines in order to compete with Skytrain. I understand that the airlines are considering their proposals within IATA this week, but I do not know when they will be ready to file their applications. We shall have to await that situation.