HL Deb 26 March 1981 vol 418 cc1277-8

3.8 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 what progress has been made in their consideration of a wholesaling system for buying and reselling cheaply unused airline seats; and whether they will make a statement.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade (Lord Trefgarne)

My Lords, matters relating to the method of sale of airline tickets are for discussion in the first place between the airlines and their agents.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, why do we never make any progress on this matter? May I ask the Minister whether he is so secretive because he is doing nothing about it, or is he so secretive because he wishes to keep what he is doing away from the public eye? Would he not agree that really it would be for the benefit of everybody—travellers, agents and airlines—if these tickets were available to everybody?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, as the noble Baroness knows, and as I have told her and other Members of your Lordships' House on many occasions, the main thrust of our policy on this matter is to achieve a régime of lower air fares available to everybody. We have not been without some success, although I hasten to add that we have not achieved as much as I would have wished at this stage; but in this context I am pleased to be able to report that, for example, as recently as yesterday the Netherlands Government have agreed to the new British Caledonian mini-prix arrangement for which we have been asking for some time.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

Yes, my Lords. But that is not really what I am on. Could the Minister please let us know whether it is true that various organisations have been having discussions, with either the Government or highly placed civil servants, on the possibility of doing something about making these tickets more available to all agents?

Lord Trefgarne

Yes, indeed, my Lords. The proposal which is referred to in the noble Baroness's Question has been put to me. But I have explained to those who have been to see me, in exactly the same terms as I have said to the noble Baroness, that it is a matter, in the first place, for the airlines themselves.

Lord Derwent

My Lords, does my noble friend realise that, judging by previous Ministers, he will eventually have to give way to the noble Baroness?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, what is sometimes misunderstood in this matter is that the ultimate object which the noble Baroness seeks is exactly the same one as I seek. The difference between us is the way by which we get there.

Baroness Elliot of Harwood

My Lords, may I also support the noble Baroness? When the noble Lord discusses these matters with people, would he impress upon them the fact that this would be an extremely popular thing to do? To do away with the cheating—which is what is going on now—which we all know about, is something which would redound enormously to the credit of this Government and the Minister, if he could possibly bring it about.

Lord Trefgarne

That, really, is no doubt so, my Lords. But I have no power to direct the airlines in these matters.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, may I just ask he Minister this question, following on what he said: He said that it was up to the airlines to sort out this matter. Am I to understand, then, that it would be for IATA to make a recommendation that these tickets should be available to all agents?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, if IATA made a recommendation of that nature, it would, I think, be for the Civil Aviation Authority to consider it, and I would then endorse their approval, or disapproval, as the case may be.