§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYMy Lords, 1 beg Lave 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, following further inquiry, they are in a position to make a statement about the possible development of a bus service to Heathrow Airport from the West London Terminal area.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of the ENVIRONMENT (Lord Bellwin)My Lords, I fear there is nothing I can usefully add to the statement made by my noble friend Lord Trefgarne last month.
§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYI am sorry, my Lords, I was taken by surprise; would the Minister kindly repeat that?
§ Lord BELLWINYes, my Lords, of course. I fear there is nothing I can usefully add to the statement made by my noble friend Lord Trefgarne last month.
§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYMy Lords, I can. Knowing how reasonable the noble Lord is and that he has connections with Leeds, as I had in the past, may I ask him whether he is aware that what I am really after is getting recognition of the fact that people going out to Heathrow Airport would welcome a bus service from the central area to all three terminals, one for which they would be perfectly willing to pay? They do not 1284 want a free service and they do not think that the airlines should run it. if I may move on from that, may I ask the Minister whether he regards it as unreasonable that passengers and families going on holidays should have luggage? So long as that luggage is within the limits imposed by the airlines would he not agree, as I am sure his noble friend Lord Trefgarne would agree, that it was really wrong of the noble Lord, Lord Trefgarne, in his spontaneous statement on 12th June, to say that people with luggage should take a car or a taxi?
§ Lord BELLWINMy Lords, of course people who travel are expected to have luggage with them, and everyone recognises the problem that there is in this whole situation. I suspect that no one knows more of this than the noble Baroness, Lady Burton, herself, who has pursued the matter so assiduously for so long. I am sorry that I am not able to give her the kind of assurances about the services that I know she would like, but I think it would be fair to say that this is a problem which is now exercising everyone's mind, perhaps not least because the noble Baroness herself has pursued it so vigorously; and without my being able to make promises or commitments at this stage, I hope that there may be a solution to this problem before too long.
§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYMy Lords, without being too much of a nuisance, may I ask the noble Lord, Lord Bellwin, whether I could talk this over with him privately? Is he aware that I am not concerned as to who provides this service, whether or not it is the local authority—I presume that is the GLC—but that it should be paid for? Perhaps I could come and see him about it and try to soften him up on that point?
§ Lord BELLWINMy Lords, of course I shall be delighted to talk to the noble Baroness about it.
§ Lord FERRIERMy Lords, in the absence of the noble Baroness, Lady Macleod of Borve, who asked a supplementary question last time, may I ask the noble Lord this question: Does the noble Lord agree that as well as holidaymakers, the infirm, the handicapped and the elderly also have a problem with regard to luggage?
§ Lord BELLWINMy Lords, of course I agree. Who would not agree with that? The problem is not to accept that there is in fact a problem but to decide the best way of coping with it.
§ Lord MONSONMy Lords, would the noble Lord, Lord Bellwin, not agree that if British Airways did not propose to waste large sums of money on the ridiculous idea of painting out the word "Airways" on the sides of all their aircraft there would doubtless be ample funds available for reviving a coach service from Cromwell Road?
§ Lord BELLWINMy Lords, I am sure the noble Lord does not really expect me to comment on that, although there may be many who have sympathy with the point he has made.