Hijacks and Unlawful Seizures (Hansard, 5 May 1988)

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, successive governments helped to ensure that international conventions so provide. The Tokyo Convention requires states to take appropriate measures to restore unlawfully seized aircraft which land within their territory to lawful control. The Hague and Montreal Conventions are concerned that offenders should be brought to justice. The International Civil Aviation Organisation has produced guidance on the response to hijacks. We shall press for further nations to sign those conventions. We shall encourage ICAO to take further action to improve procedures to frustrate this crime.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, is the Minister aware that I welcome the last part of his statement because it agrees with my submission? Will he not accept that existing precautions are inadequate? It is still easy for hijackers to get on to planes. Despite the courage of the Kuwaiti Government, there was no universal action to support them; the plane was able to go from one airport to another to refuel and so on. Is it not time for this country, which has taken the lead so often in these matters, to call another convention to see whether it is possible to reduce to an absolute 681 minimum the role of hijackers—those appalling cowards—in threatening innocent people and causing great distress among all nations?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary put forward to the European Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers recently a new five-point action plan which, if adopted, would, we hope, strengthen our hand against terrorists. The plan included proposals that the Hague Convention should be strengthened.

§ Baroness Burton of Coventry
My Lords, perhaps I may ask a related question. The illegal seizure of aircraft is facilitated greatly by inadequate security at airports. Would the Government feel able to take the initiative in securing a worldwide survey of security at airports, subsequently to be made public for the benefit of travellers and airlines throughout the world?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, we work continually with other states to improve the agreed standards and to ensure that they are properly enforced. As to United Kingdom practices, we shall examine the recent incident to see whether any improvements are necessary. We are in constant touch with the International Civil Aviation Organisation to make certain that proposals are carried out.

§ Baroness Burton of Coventry
My Lords, I do not wish to be rude but that type of answer is the reason we never get anywhere. Someone has to take the initiative. I repeat my question. Will the Government take the initiative and ask ICAO, or anyone else, to undertake and publish a worldwide survey of security at airports? Will they please bring that to the notice of ICAO at its next meeting?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, one point in my right honourable friend's five-point plan was that an international task force should be set up to investigate the hijacking and examine security arrangements at the relevant airports. That should be set up under ICAO auspices. We take very seriously the need for such action but it must be done through international agreement.

§ Lord Mason of Barnsley
My Lords, is the Minister aware that so long as there are avenues of escape for hijackers and airports and nations are prepared to receive hijacked aircraft, international terrorism will not be curbed? Is he aware, therefore, that only if the International Air Transport Association is prepared to ban airports of nations that receive them can some progress be made on this subject?

Noble Lords
Reading!

§ Lord Mason of Barnsley
What pressure is Her Majesty's Government applying to IATA to effect that ban on those airports that still allow the reception of international hijackers?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, I have already said that we continue to put pressure on other countries through the various organisations and 682 through the ICAO. I think that there is little more that I can say at the moment.

§ Lord Mayhew
My Lords, on the subject of the Kuwaiti hijack, will the Minister admit the very grave difficulties for the Algerian Government in rescuing the passengers and at the same time bringing the hijackers to justice? Will he say how many governments supported the Prime Minister's demand for the imposition of sanctions against the Algerian Government for not succeeding in that?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, we agree that the Algerians faced considerable difficulty. Nevertheless, it is regrettable that the hijackers appear to have been allowed to go free. The prime responsibility must of course be for the safety of the passengers in the hijacked aircraft. As to the noble Lord's second question about a call for sanctions, I am afraid that I do not have an answer at the moment.

§ Lord Stoddart of Swindon
My Lords, can the noble Lord say whether it is the Government's view that the deal done by the French for the release of their three hostages will increase or diminish the likelihood of further hostage-taking in the future, whether it is by air or any other method? Each is as bad as the other.

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, that is rather a different question. But the Government's view remains that we should not give in to hijackers.

§ Lord Underhill
My Lords, does the Minister not agree that the most important part of my noble friend's Question is the first part relating to security measures at airports? That is surely the most important point and it was emphasised by the noble Baroness. Can the Minister say when the matter is likely to be raised again? Will he provide information on the important question of whether a monitoring team could see that all airports carry out proper security measures?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, it is a matter which should definitely be kept very much in mind. In this country the Government are responsible for security at airports. I believe IATA said recently that we are among the best in that respect. As to foreign airports, it is the responsibility of British airlines which serve those airports to satisfy themselves about the security arrangements.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, would the Minister not agree that terrorism and hijacking are now the most appalling form of international gangsterism? Does he also not agree that international action alone can prevent terrorists' cowardice resulting in more crimes? We cannot simply sit back and say that we have certain conventions and rules which do not seem to be totally effective. I should like to ask the Minister whether he has listened to the comments that have come from all sides of this Chamber and whether the Government will consider an international convention to deal with the aspects that I raised in my initial Question.

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, as I have said there are already conventions which, if properly enforced, should deal with those matters. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary has put forward his five-point plan to strengthen those conventions.