HC Deb 12 May 1980 vol 984 cc318-9W
13. Mr. Colvin

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the recent talks with Canada concerning the air service agreement between the United Kingdom and Canada.

Mr. Tebbit

As I told my hon Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) on 1 May, at the April talks the Canadian delegation refused British Airways access to Western Canada unless we gave Canadian airlines further major unreciprocated traffic rights between London and Hong Kong, including that cabotage route itself. This is not acceptable and we have told the Canadians that Air Canada's direct services to Western Canada will have to end on 31 March 1981 unless British airlines are allowed similar rights.