§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which airline has won the contract to transport Scottish Office staff travelling to Europe on official business; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangMy Department does not have contracts with particular carriers to transport staff on routes between the United Kingdom and Europe. It is a member of a consortium of Government Departments which, following an open tendering exercise with all the carriers on a number of heavily used routes, has awarded preferred-carrier status to Sabena for travel to Brussels and Air France for Paris. There are no arrangements for other European destinations. Bookings are made taking account of price and airline schedules. These arrangements will be reviewed at 31 March 1995.