§ Mr. Blackburnasked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement on the latest situation regarding deregulation of domestic air services in the United Kingdom; what response he has had from the Civil Aviation Authority; when the Civil Aviation Authority will be deciding what document it will submit to aviation interests on the subject of deregulation; whether he will 409W seek to ensure that consumer interests are fully consulted; and if he has anything to add to his parliamentary answer on deregulation in November following his visit to the United States to study deregulation there.
§ Mr. SproatIf it is decided that the Civil Aviation Authority should issue a new statement of policy on air transport licensing, in accordance with section 69(3) of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 the authority will have to consult both the civil air transport industry and users of air transport services.
My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State and I are considering whether the authority should be required under section 69(3) to publish a revised statement within six months.
I have nothing further at this time to add to my parliamentary answer on 10 November 1982 to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter), when I explained that it was my conclusion that, following my study of aviation deregulation in the United States, deregulation had proved on balance to be a substantial benefit to both passengers and airlines in the United States.