HL Deb 28 March 1979 vol 399 cc1579-80

2.48 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 are now in a position to announce details of the decision reached by the Association of European Airlines on the introduction of a common Denied Boarding Compensation scheme throughout Europe covering inward and outward flights: and whether they will make a Statement.

Lord JACQUES

My Lords, the European Directors-General of Civil Aviation met on 22nd March, when they considered the Association's scheme and agreed upon recommendations to members States. In the light of these recommendations the Civil Aviation Authority is considering the scheme which was filed with them on 16th March by British Airways. There will be no undue delay in the Authority's consideration of the scheme, but the establishment of this more widely based scheme will also depend upon the actions of other Governments or their agencies. Details of the scheme will be announced in due course.

I am pleased to be able to add that it has just been announced by British Airways that they understand the scheme has been approved in Austria, West Germany, France, Belgium and Switzerland, and that those countries hope to operate it as from early in April.

Baroness BURTON of COVENTRY

My Lords, is the Minister aware that I greatly regret that the Civil Aviation Authority has still to deliberate upon this scheme? Is he also aware that air travellers will welcome the fact that the Governments of the five countries named have accepted the scheme, and that British Airways will operate the current scheme with those five countries as from 1st April? Can my noble friend say whether, if it should be necessary to put down another Question and whichever Government are in power, we may perhaps hope for more countries to have acceded to the scheme?

Lord JACQUES

My Lords, the matter is not of great urgency so far as the United Kingdom is concerned. The recommendation of the Director-General of European Aviation Authorities was that the member States should put into operation a scheme which was at least as good as the Association's scheme. We already have a better scheme, so we are already complying with the recommendation. It might be advisable at some later stage to put down a Question because, although five countries have indicated that they will approve the scheme, there are 13 other countries in the Association whose views we do not yet know.