HC Deb 18 February 1987 vol 110 c623W
Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to reduce fares for air travel and to ensure that these are based upon arrangements which are more comprehensible to the traveller.

Mr. Michael Spicer

The Government have already secured a number of major liberal bilateral air service agreements with other European countries. We are now concentrating our efforts on obtaining a worthwhile agreement on air transport liberalisation in the European Community. The proposals now under discussion were tabled by the United Kingdom presidency as a first step towards the 1992 internal market target date. They include measures which, if adopted, would allow cheaper, less confusing fares to be introduced in off-peak periods; and would make it easier for airlines to introduce business fares on the basis of their own commercial judgment of the needs of the market.