§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he is taking to assist British private airlines in their bids for lower air fares between London and other West European countries.
§ Mr. TebbitWe are considering with the Civil Aviation Authority what action would be appropriate in the light of the unhelpful attitude adopted by the French, Dutch and Belgian authorities to the new low fares proposed by British Caledonian Airways on its existing services to358W Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels. We are anxious to see that air fares are as low as possible consistent with the viability of efficient airlines.
It would not be proper for me to comment on the applications made to the Civil Aviation Authority for new low-fares services to many European destinations by airlines not at present holding licences to serve those destinations.