§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will state how far the Department of Trade has been able to complete its stated intention of replacing the 17 open-ended airline operating permits by new ones including the relevant tariff changes; how many remain outstanding and whether these are for scheduled passenger or cargo services.
§ The Secretary of State for Trade (Lord Cockfield)My Lords, all the 17 open-ended permits to which the noble Baroness refers have now been replaced by new permits which require the airlines to apply tariffs which have been approved by the aeronautical authorities of the United Kingdom.
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, as this first surfaced some six months ago—last October—may I ask the noble Lord the Minister whether he is aware how appreciative I am of that which he has done, and that I would like to say thank you? Moving on from there, may I ask the noble Lord whether the fact that he has been able to do this will make it easier for airlines, travel agents and travellers to find out what these approved fares now are? If the answer to that question is yes, may I ask the noble Lord whether he will lend his support to a request that the airlines and travel agents unite on this particular aspect?
§ Lord CockfieldMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness for the remarks in the first part of her supplementary question. So far as the second part of her question is concerned, the answer is, yes—this does make it clear that the approved fares must be charged. We give every support to the airlines and to the organisations which represent them, to encourage them to observe the proper scheduled and approved fares.