§ Mr. James Hillasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration he is giving to the arrangements for civil aviation security, particularly the searching of passengers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael Heseltine:I have today visited Heathrow Airport to inspect the implementation of security measures operating there. It remains the view of the Government that airline and airport authorities must continue to bear responsibility for the security of the operation of their aircraft and their airports respectively. But the Government have decided that they will in future bear the reasonable costs to British and overseas airlines of screening passengers and their baggage, which is estimated to cost £1 million per annum. The arrangements for ensuring a proper level of security are kept under continuing review through the National Aviation Security Committee and by the airport security committees which have been set up at all principal civil airports.