§ Mr. Neubertasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what is the total annual cost of aviation security provided at 563W international and domestic airports in the United Kingdom, respectively;
(2) from what sources he has received representations against Her Majesty's Government's proposals to recover the cost of aviation security at international airports in the United Kingdom;
(3) what percentage of the cost of aviation security at international airports would be recovered by Her Majesty's Government's proposals to levy a charge on user airlines and what is his estimate of the individual cost to airline passengers; what other countries with scheduled airlines belonging to the International Air Transport Association make such a charge; and whether these proposals are in breach of the United Kingdom's obligations as a member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the European Civil Aviation Conference.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisAs part of their proposals to reduce public expenditure, the Government have decided in principle that the total cost of aviation security measures recommended by the Department of Trade under the Protection of Aircraft Act 1973 should be transferred from the taxpayer to the industry from 1st April 1978.
The cost of these measures is estimated at £11.8 million for the current financial year and is likely to be about £15 million at current prices in 1978–79. This would amount to an average of about 72p for each arriving, or alternatively departing, passenger.
Overseas countries which make a charge to airlines for security measures include the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Japan. We do not consider that the proposals are in breach of our obligations as a member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation or the European Civil Aviation Conference. Representations against these proposals have been received from United Kingdom airlines and airport authorities, from the International Air Transport Association, the Association of European Airlines and the British Tourist Authority. The aviation trade unions, however, support the proposals.