§ Baroness Burton of Coventry asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether they will make a statement on those air matters discussed at the informal meeting of the European Community Transport Ministers Council held on 13th February, indicating the decisions reached and the items deferred to the formal Council to be held on 14th March.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Lord Brabazon of Tara)My Lords, discussion of air transport matters concentrated on problems in air traffic control. As this was an informal meeting, no decisions were reached. Whether outstanding proposals on air transport matters will come before the March Council will depend upon progress in the official level working group.
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, I am glad that the Commission's proposals on air traffic control have at least officially, even if informally, reached the Transport Ministers. Can the House be told whether the proposals indicated agreement that ICAO and Eurocontrol should remain in the lead rather than the Commission itself being involved? As the March Transport Ministers Council is not an informal meeting can we hope that some decisions will be reached?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraYes, my Lords. There was general consensus in the Council that the Community should support the work of those organisations but without duplicating their effort. The proposals which were put forward by the Commission are generally supportive of the role of Eurocontrol but envisage rather greater Community involvement, including Community adherence to the Eurocontrol Convention, the establishment of a consultative committee on air traffic control and Community involvement in air transport infrastructure. I hope that aviation matters will come before the Council in March but, as I said, that depends upon progress at official level.
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, 1 am sure that the Minister does his best, but is he aware that there seems to be no sense of urgency either on the part of the Commission or the Community and that the replies which he has to give reflect that lack of urgency? Can the noble Lord do anything to instil urgency into the Commission, or do Ministers just sit still and wait for the next meeting?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, we should welcome a sense of urgency on the part of the Commission on this and various other matters in which we are also interested, particularly in the aviation field. As I have said, there was general consensus in the Council that efforts in regard to air traffic control should be concentrated through ICAO and Eurocontrol and that the Commission's role should be limited.
§ Lord NorthfieldMy Lords, as the noble Lord mentioned other matters, can he say whether progress has been made at the last two or three Council meetings on liberalisation? Are the French and German Governments beginning to give way on liberalisation in respect of competition on air routes and freedom of pricing and fares?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, the latest position is that it was agreed that further proposals for liberalisation should be brought forward by the Commission by November of this year to come into effect in June 1990. We are anxious to see what proposals the Commission brings forward in November and we ourselves shall shortly begin to lobby strenuously on that matter.
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, can the Minister lobby extensively on the basis that air traffic control is one of the most serious matters affecting the entire Community? Will he do his best to ensure that we receive an answer instead of the interminable meetings which go on and on?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, as I have said on several occasions, we believe that Eurocontrol and ICAO should take the lead in this matter. The Commission's involvement should, I believe, be limited. We do not believe that there is a significant role for it. The most valuable contribution which the Commission could make would be in funding research and development through Eurocontrol.
The Commission has also said that Eurocontrol should take responsibility for the Air Traffic Flow Management Unit. We believe that Eurocontrol should take that responsibility, and that decision resulted from a British initiative.