HL Deb 11 July 1985 vol 466 cc314-5

3.10 p.m.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My 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, further to their answer to the Baroness Burton of Coventry on the 13th of June (col. 1349) concerning the European Commission and European airlines, what decisions were reached by the Council of Transport Ministers at their meeting on the 24th of June.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces (Lord Trefgarne)

My Lords, the Transport Council was unable to deal with the question of increased competition for European air transport at its meeting on 24th June because of pressure of other business, including aviation security, on which the council issued a helpful declaration. We are pressing the council to return to the question of increased competition at the earliest opportunity.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, while no reasonable person could object to that order of priority at that time, can the Minister give us a date when the Council of Transport Ministers is likely to meet? Does he recall that on 13th June he said that the Government believed that it was the right course for the Council of Transport Ministers to reach a conclusion on this matter?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I assure the noble Baroness that that remains our view. The council is to meet again on 14th November, which I agree is a disappointingly long time ahead, but we hope very much that it will be able to move forward on this matter then.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, is it not possible for the Government to use their influence to advance the date from 14th November, as that seems rather a long time ahead?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, that is a matter for the presidency; it is the Italians at the present time and it will be the Luxembourgers at the turn of the year.

Lord Gisborough

My Lords, will my noble friend do what he can to ensure that the competitive fares are particularly relevant to the northern airports so that they will gain and that more transport will be available from the northern airports to relieve those in the south-east?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, the sentiments of my noble friend have a familiar ring about them, but I agree wholeheartedly with him to the extent that we want to ensure a much more competitive regime in these matters.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, may I make a helpful intervention? Can the Minister say whether it is correct that the British Government have at last persuaded the French Government to enter into discussions on greater competition, with the possibility of cheaper fares? If that is true, may I congraulate the Government?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I am always ready to receive the congratulations of the noble Baroness. My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary had some useful discussions with his French counterpart last week.