§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the implications of the current claim for compensation by Laker Airways for the saleability of British Airways in the proposed privatisation.
§ Mr. RidleyAs my hon. Friend explained in a written reply to the hon. Member for South Hams (Mr. Steen) on 17 January at column193 uncertainties arising from legal actions, brought under anti trust law in the USA, related to the failure of Laker Airways, had caused some slippage in the plans for privatising British Airways. The airline defendants are seeking to negotiate a settlement of the litigation against them and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the progress of those negotiations. It remains, however, the Government's intention to privatise British Airways as soon as practicable.