§ 2.33 p.m.
§ The Earl of KimberleyMy 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 why the British Airports Authority deem it necessary to change the names of the lounges at London Airport from Alcock and Brown to Hillingdon, and from de Havilland, Brabazon and Kingsford-Smith to Hounslow.
§ Lord LyellMy Lords, the choice of names for the VIP suites at Heathrow Airport is a matter for the board of the British Airports Authority and not for the Government. I understand that the proposed changes were prompted by the reduction in the number of suites in the central area from four to two and the consequential difficulty of choosing which of the four names of equally famous aviation pioneers to drop.
§ The Earl of KimberleyMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for his Answer, may I ask whether he would not agree that this is one of the greatest insults which could have been given to these brave pioneers of British aviation? Secondly, will he confirm that there is already a VIP lounge on the south side of the airport, called Southside, and that would make a total of three? Does he not agree that this is just another example of the British Airports Authority's bureaucracy?
§ Lord LyellMy Lords, we would certainly agree it is very sad that these famous names will no longer be noted and attached to the suites in the central area at Heathrow. I will certainly convey your Lordships' opinion to the British Airports Authority. My noble friend is quite correct; I understand that there is an additional VIP facility, as he described, and I shall check whether a name might be applied to that facility.