HL Deb 26 June 1986 vol 477 cc411-2
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 what decisions were reached, or recommendations made, at the meeting of the Council of Transport Ministers held on 18th/19th June in view of the decision by the European Court of Justice that government control of air fares within the EC was illegal.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (The Earl of Caithness)

My Lords, civil aviation was not discussed at the last council meeting, which was adjourned. However, a further meeting of transport Ministers has been scheduled for next Monday. We shall press for progress on aviation issues then.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, the Minister has given me the information I intended giving him. Does he realise that this saga really reflects nothing but failure upon failure and that we never get anywhere at all? Am I correct in assuming that he has just told the House that at that last important meeting which was deferred until 18th and 19th June the Council of Transport Ministers did not even discuss the liberalisation of transport within the Community? Is he further aware that the European commissioner responsible for transport declared that the decision to abandon the meeting without discussing air fares was deeply regrettable? What do the Government now propose to do?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I can confirm that aviation was not discussed at the last council meeting. I read the same article that the noble Baroness has quoted about the comments of the commissioner responsible. The Commission has tabled a paper which will be discussed on 30th June and we shall be taking over the presidency on 1st July. We shall be pressing very hard on this matter of aviation and upon other matters of transport.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, I do not have much faith in papers being tabled. We do not get anywhere, whatever is tabled. Does the Minister recall that on 5th June we were told in this House that the Commission said that unless there was satisfactory progress in the council by June it would itself take steps to apply the competition rules of the treaty? What will happen? Is the Commission really going to take action or will there be no discussion again?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, indeed the Commission can take action under Article 89 of the Treaty of Rome. Alas, as there was no discussion at the last council meeting there seemed to be little point in the Commission taking action straight away until the discussion on 30th June. Thereafter it will be up to the Commission to decide what action to take, but I understand that it will want to take action immediately if no progress is made.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, now that the European Court has actually come out with a sensible decision, would it not be a good idea to encourage it in that by acting promptly on it?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, that is exactly what we in the Government are trying to do and what the Commission is trying to do. I am grateful to my noble friend for that question.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, as Monday 30th June is the last day of the Dutch presidency of the EC and as we ourselves assume the presidency on 1 st July, can we take it that there will be no further excuses for immediate action?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I think we have made enormous progress on aviation liberalisation, and we shall continue to press with all the forces at our command to take it a stage further.