§ Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will announce the rate of aviation levy for 1979.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisFollowing consultation with representatives of the air transport industry, I have today laid before Parliament under the Civil Aviation 309W Act 1978, section 2(9), draft regulations amending the Aviation Security Fund Regulations 1978 (SI 1978/7) for approval by resolution of each House of Parliament. The effect of these regulations will be to increase the rate of the levy from 80p to 85p from 1st April 1979. I have also taken account of representations made to me about the effect of the levy on small aircraft, in particular helicopters servicing the North Sea oil rigs, and have accordingly proposed that the levy will not be made with reference to persons carried on an aircraft of which the maximum total weight authorised does not exceed 10,000 kilograms. Under the present arrangements, only those carried on aircraft not exceeding 5,000 kilograms are excepted.