§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has now completed his investigations into the allegations of bribing of civil servants concerning group charter air travel; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NobleThe investigations are not yet complete. I will consider whether a statement is called for once I have the results of the inquiries now going on.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the occasions on which his Department has acted against illegal air travel activities; what penalties have been enforced; and what further action he intends to take against the purveyors of illegal air travel.
§ Mr. NobleThe Department is engaged in continuing enforcement activity in this field but I take it the right hon. Gentleman is referring particularly to affinity group charter flights. So far this year the Department has checked nine such flights by British airlines, and has refused a number of permits to foreign airlines. In addition the Department has prosecuted four travel organisers, in three cases successfully, and fines totalling £885 were imposed plus costs of £110. Two further prosecutions are pending and other cases are under investigation.
20W
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES APPROVED* Number Area (600 sq. ft.) Estimated Additional Employment† Males Total Barnsley Group of Employment Exchange Areas 1970 3rd quarter … … … … … … 10 118 220 280 4th quarter … … … … … … 6 156 130 130 1971 January—September‡ … … … … … 7 195 270 370 * All schemes. † Applicants' estimates of the additional employment expected to arise when the projects are complete and fully manned. ‡ Separate figures for each quarter cannot be given owing to the risk of disclosure of details of individual projects. I hope to make an early statement about further action that will be taken this winter to deal with abuses.