§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to safeguard the carriage of traffic by British airlines on charter flights serving places in South-East Asia, in view of the difficulties encountered by the Air Transport Licensing Board in seeking to authorise this traffic within the present regulatory framework.
§ Mr. NobleThe main difficulty is that part of the operations in question does not fall within the present regulatory framework and there is a risk that if this part is excluded the whole of the traffic will be lost by British air transport. The traffic is apparently acceptable to the other Government primarily concerned. My right hon. Friend has, therefore, decided, after consulting the A.T.L.B., to exempt from the requirements of Section 1(2)(b) of the Civil Aviation (Licensing) Act, 1960, a limited 177W number of services between London and South-East Asia by Caledonian/British United Airways (Charter) Ltd. and will be ready to give a similar exemption to British Overseas Air Charters Ltd.