HL Deb 01 March 1982 vol 427 cc1109-10
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 have now completed their study of the ways in which other countries deal with the airport security levy; and whether they will make a statement.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Trefgarne)

My Lords, the remarks made in another place by my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade, to which the noble Baroness's Question refers, were concerned with examining who carried out passenger searching measures in other countries rather than with how they were financed. My honourable friend has now announced that he will be reviewing during the next few months both the organisation and financing of aviation security in the United Kingdom. I expect that during the course of the review my honourable friend will have regard to the system in other countries.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, the Minister has got himself into a muddle. Is he aware that I am not referring at all to the charges, expenses or financial side? Is he further aware that it was nearly three months ago, on 8th December, that Mr. lain Sproat in another place said he had decided to look again at the ways in which other countries deal with these matters? I am asking the Minister whether we can have a Statement as to the way in which other countries deal with these matters. That is nothing at all to do with what we do or with the amounts charged.

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I am not sure that the Answer that I gave was at variance with the Question tabled by the noble Baroness, as she implies. The position is as I have described it: my honourable friend is considering these matters and will doubtless make a Statement in due course.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, I know. However, is the Minister aware that his Answer is considerably at variance with the Question that I have asked? This is a perfectly serious Question. Is the noble Lord aware that many of us in this House are interested as to the methods which other countries use to finance the security charges? I am asking him whether he will make a general Statement on that matter. If not, when does he expect to be able to do so?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, with respect to the noble Baroness, the Question on the Order Paper does not refer specifically to how these matters are financed but to how they deal with the airport security levy. That is a slightly different matter.

Lord Leatherland

My Lords, regarding airport security, which is mentioned in this Question, may I ask the noble Lord whether he was satisfied with what happened at Stansted Airport last night?

Lord Trefgarne

Yes, my Lords.

Lord Leatherland

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that as it took place in Essex, he must be satisfied?

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, may I ask the Minister this question, and could he give me a straight answer? Have the Government not yet found out how other countries deal with this matter of security charges? If not, when does he expect that he will be able to make a general Statement? I am not asking for a final report.

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, as the noble Baroness will know, there are a large number of Governments with whom we have to consult on these matters. I cannot give the noble Baroness an undertaking when this will be complete; but I can say from my recent and comparatively short experience in the Foreign Office that consulting other Governments is sometimes a very long-winded process.

Lord Elwyn-Jones

My Lords, would not the noble Lord be well advised to surrender to the noble Baroness?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, the snag is that I cannot quite think how to do that!

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