HL Deb 09 December 1982 vol 437 cc258-60

3.12 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 the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority has completed his inquiry into the adminstration of the authority and if not when he expects to do so; and whether the resulting report will be presented to Parliament.

Lord Cockfield

My Lords, in July of this year my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade asked the new chairman of the CAA, Mr. John Dent, to look at all the operations of the authority with a fresh eye and to let him have his views on the CAA's activities and his strategic objectives for the management of the authority over the next few years. We are not expecting a formal report, but my honourable friend intends to discuss the chairman's conclusions with him, and the aviation industry will then be consulted before decisions are taken.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, is the noble Lord the Minister aware that on the day he mentioned I did ask in this House whether it was not true that Mr. Sproat had asked for this review to be conducted? Perhaps the Minister will refer to the Hansard for 16th July, at col. 572, which he probably has in his file. Is he aware that we were told that the results of this review would be published, and therefore may we perhaps hope that that will be the case? May I further ask the noble Lord whether, as well as reviewing the administration of the CAA, the functions and the power of that authority will also be included in the review?

Lord Cockfield

My Lords, with respect, there is a difference between publishing the review itself and publishing the result of the review. Clearly if there are going to be consultations there must be clear indication of the points on which consultation is being conducted. Therefore, the broad conclusions will inevitably be published. So far as the powers and functions of the CAA are concerned, this, of course, lies quite outside the scope of the present review being underaken by my honourable friend.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, while being grateful for half a loaf, in that at least the conclusions will be published, may I ask the noble Lord whether he feels that as a result of this he will be able to look at the problem which arises when the Department of Trade and the Civil Aviation Authority both have representatives at international meetings? Is he aware that, whereas the department deals with political and bilateral matters, the Civil Aviation Authority deals with fares, and this causes a considerable grey area which many people would like to see cleared up?

Lord Cockfield

My Lords, the latter point that the noble Baroness raises is one that I shall certainly be prepared to look at. I should have thought that there were sound reasons why both the Government and the Civil Aviation Authority should be represented, but I will look into the matter and write to the noble Baroness.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, I wonder whether the noble Lord the Minister would be prepared to consider this. In so far as I understand it—he will tell me if I have got it wrong—Parliament and the Government ordered this inquiry, which will have very far-reaching effects, as I am sure the noble Lord appreciates. Would it therefore not be right and proper that the Parliament which instructed the inquiry to be made should also have the right to deliberate upon it?

Lord Cockfield

My Lords, with respect, I think the noble Lord misunderstands the nature of the review being undertaken. It is a continuous process, by which both the Government and public authorities like the CAA look at their operations. It is perfectly normal for a Minister to ask a body for which he is responsible to review its activities. The report which is produced will be in the nature of a working document rather than a formal report, and it would not be normal practice to publish it, as such.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, of course the noble Lord is absolutely correct, but when identical and similar instances have occurred Ministers have been requested by Parliament that their reports should be available to be discussed, and this is very rarely refused.

Lord Cockfield

My Lords, it depends on the nature of the document to which reference is made. So far as this review is concerned, it is essentially an internal review. We will be consulting the airlines and the other people interested on any points which we think ought to be pursued, but the review itself is essentially an internal operation and there is no question of a formal report being produced. There is, therefore, no report to publish.