HL Deb 20 October 1982 vol 435 cc117-8

2.48 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, in view of the necessity for an overall ministerial decision upon the area of military airspace affecting the deviation of passenger air routes, they have been able to refer to the Council of Ministers the detailed suggestions from IATA concerning 10 routes within the European Economic Community which could produce considerable savings for airlines and passengers in finance, fares and fuel.

Lord Lyell

My Lords, a special European conference of the International Civil Aviation Organisation has asked its European Air Navigation Planning Group to look into IATA's specific suggestions, and this group is in the process of holding four meetings to consider the IATA proposals. We believe that this line of approach is more likely to achieve results than raising the matter in the Council of Ministers, particularly as many other nations, as well as the members of the Community, are involved.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord the Minister for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware how indebted I am to the director of the National Air Traffic Services and his colleagues for the time that they gave me during the Recess and from whom I learned a great deal? Is he aware, also, that I appreciated the details sent to me by the Secretary of State only this week following the action taken by him when he requested his officials at the Department of Trade to look into the whole question of air traffic control aspects of fuel saving? Finally, may I ask the noble Lord whether, as he has already indicated, the House will not be glad to learn from the noble Lord, Lord Cockfield, and I quote: A special European conference of the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organisation has asked the European Air Navigation Planning Group to look into IATA's problem, and this Group is in the process of holding four meetings specifically to consider the IATA proposals.

Several noble Lords

Speech!

Baroness Burton of Coventry

I wonder whether the Minister would convey to his noble friend Lord Cockfield the appreciation of all of us interested in civil aviation at what has been done?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, I am sure my noble friend will he most grateful for the comments and support of the noble Baroness. I shall pass on her comments and her gratitude to the director of the National Air Traffic Services. If I can pass on any compliments, I shall certainly do so very swiftly.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, following that catalogue of acknowledgements, may I ask the Minister whether he is aware that the Secretary of State did say that he would continue to press this matter? Could the Minister give an indication when the time seems suitable for putting down a follow-up Question?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, we never bet on a hypothesis. I am sure the noble Baroness, and indeed the House, will await with interest the result of the four special meetings of the special planning group. That should be in the very near future.

Lord Derwent

My Lords, if the noble Baroness and the present Government are going to agree like this, are not the rest of us going to miss a lot of fun?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, one's very presence in your Lordships' House is fun. I hope my noble friend will remember that.