§ 2.57 p.m.
§ The Earl of KIMBERLEYMy 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 what steps they are taking with the Malaysian Government in order to ensure that British Airways' Concorde service to Singapore may be reopened as soon as possible.
§ Baroness STEDMANMy Lords, we have provided the Malaysian Government with full information to meet their concern that Concorde might affect their environment, and we have urged them to allow the service to restart. Malaysia is sending a delegation to London for a general 975 review of air services. This will start shortly, and the opportunity will be taken to press for the service to restart.
§ The Earl of KIMBERLEYMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that Answer, and it is perhaps encouraging that the Malaysians are coming here. Is she aware that the service started on 9th December, ran for exactly one week and therefore has now not been working for five months? Is she further aware that without Singapore the whole of the Far Eastern routes for Concorde cannot be opened up? Can she confirm whether it is true or false that in many ways the Malaysians feel that they have been taken for granted and have therefore lost face? Can she also confirm that, when they come here in the latter part of this month, they will be seen by senior Ministers and not junior Ministers?
§ Baroness STEDMANMy Lords, in reply to the last part of the noble Earl's supplementary question, I should say that I am sure that when they come here the Malaysian delegation will be met by the appropriate Ministers. I cannot guarantee who will meet them, but they certainly will be met by an appropriate delegation from the United Kingdom. What they are really concerned about in Malaysia is that Concorde might damage their environment. However, when travelling at supersonic speed the aircraft would be well away from the Malaysian territory. It would fly over only two miles of Malaysian territorial water, which would be further away than when it flies over the territories of Italy and Yugoslavia. But the Malaysians are still concerned about the environmental risks from the noise of Concorde. We have submitted certain statements in evidence to them, and no doubt this will all be discussed at the forthcoming meetings.
§ The Earl of KIMBERLEYMy Lords, I should like to ask the noble Baroness one more supplementry question. Does she not agree that the matter is no longer in British Airways' technical hands, but is entirely a diplomatic matter between the two Governments? Can she give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will do everything possible to reach a satisfactory conclusion to this problem.
§ Baroness STEDMANMy Lords, I would not have thought it to be necessary to ask Her Majesty's Government to do everything possible to solve this problem. We want Concorde flying, not only to Malaysia but to other places as well. We shall certainly give all the assurances that the noble Lord wants, that we will do our best to bring this to a happy conclusion.
The Earl of SELKIRKMy Lords, may I ask the noble Baroness whether she has thought of the possibility of the Concorde landing, alternatively, in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore?
§ Baroness STEDMANNot without notice, my Lords, hut I shall certainly inquire about that and write to the noble Earl.
§ Lord GRIDLEYMy Lords, when the Malayan delegation come here, would it not be appropriate to remind them of the great affection which this country has for Malaya and also for Singapore, and that the delay in arranging for this British aircraft to fly to that territory is causing quite a lot of unhappiness to people in this country?
§ Baroness STEDMANMy Lords, I am sure that those who meet the Malaysian delegation will be aware of all the points that the noble Lord has made, and I am quite sure that they will make those points to them, also.