§ 2.50 p.m.
§ Lord NEWALLMy 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 approve of scheduled air- 1364 lines increasing fares and extending peak season prices for crossing the Atlantic, to the detriment of the public, who cannot ascertain the accuracy of these increases, and who consequently suffer repeated surcharges at irregular and frequent intervals.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, competition on North Atlantic fares has produced some excellent bargains for travellers, but steep rises in fuel and other costs have inevitably meant more frequent fare increases in the last year or so. The Department of Trade and the Civil Aviation Authority, who approve foreign and United Kingdom airlines' fares respectively, have to consider that while frequent upward changes are undesirable for travellers, refusal could be commercially damaging to airlines, particularly in their present depressed state of profitability. Where fares or peak period dates are changed, a cut-off date is usually set to protect consumers from short notice changes.
§ Lord NEWALLMy Lords, I thank my noble friend very much for his reply. Is he aware that these increases cause considerable hardship to passengers, and should not perhaps a cooling-off period be thought of to allow the enormous excess charges which tour operators charge passengers to be deferred for some time?
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, it would be nice if we could persuade OPEC to observe the same cooling-off period.
§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYMy Lords, is it correct that the leading charter airlines have joined forces with the tour operators to look at this whole question of surcharges and the notification to passengers? If that is the case, could the Minister express approval and also the hope that the scheduled airlines might get together to ensure that passengers are given advance notice of the surcharges, with the details in terms that they can understand?
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, so far as I know it is always the intention of airlines to give as much notice as possible, and I am phrasing my answer particularly towards the scheduled air- 1365 lines, which, of course, are the principal carriers on the North Atlantic route, where charter business is no longer as significant as it was. As for the conference—if that is what it is—between charter airlines and the tour agents, to which the noble Baroness referred, I have no information on that in front of me, but from what the noble Baroness says, it sounds a very good thing.
§ Lord BOYD-CARPENTERMy Lords, has it not been demonstrated—not least by Sir Freddie Laker—that the best method of keeping air fares down is the introduction of more competition?
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, I entirely agree with my noble friend.
§ Lord NEWALLMy Lords, does my noble friend know whether the actual increases are factually given to the Government before they give their approval? If the reasons for the increases are given, why could they not tell the public so that the public could make their determined choice and know the facts?
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, of course the Government must approve these increases before they come into force; but as for conveying that information to the customers, that, of course, is a matter for the airlines.