§ Mr. StringerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will instruct his officials to open negotiations with the Malaysian Government in order to secure direct air services between Manchester and Kuala Lumpur before the 1998 Commonwealth Games. [20816]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe operation of direct air services between Manchester and Kuala Lumpur is a matter for the commercial judgment of the designated carriers of the two countries. We would consider any request for talks to review the present air services arrangements.
§ Miss McintoshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of a mandate being given to the Commissioner of the European Union to negotiate bilateral air service agreements with other countries. [20733]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe UK supported the mandates granted by the Transport Council to the European Commission to negotiate aviation agreements with Norway and Sweden in 1990, with Switzerland in 1995 and with ten central and eastern European (CEE) countries in 1996 (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia). The Commission's negotiations with Switzerland and with the CEE countries are continuing. We would welcome the extension of the aviation single market to these countries, provided there is no distortion of competition or dilution of safety standards. This should38W increase opportunities for UK travellers, UK airlines and UK airports, leading to greater choice and lower fares.
In 1996 the UK was isolated in opposing the granting of a limited mandate to the Commission to enter into preliminary discussions with the US on a possible regulatory framework for EC/US air services. The Commission's subsequent request for a mandate for comprehensive negotiations with the US including market access is currently under discussion in Brussels, but several Member States, including the UK, have expressed doubts about the practicability of the Commission's proposal. Our priority objective is to bring our current bilateral negotiations with the US to a successful conclusion, which would bring benefits for travellers in the UK and throughout the Community.
We would consider any future proposal for authorising the Commission to negotiate air services agreements with third countries on their merits.
§ Mr. StringerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what specific(a) quantified and (b) unquantified factors are used by the CAA to assess regional economic benefits in its economic analysis prepared before air service negotiations. [20815]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe quantified and unquantified factors used by the CAA to assess regional benefits in its economic analyses are set out in a paper CAP638 "The Economic Impact of New Air Services", published in November 1994. I am arranging for copies of this document to be placed in the House Library.
§ Mr. StringerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons his Department has not agreed to allow Air Jamaica rights to operate passenger flights to Manchester Airport. [20814]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonAir Jamaica has not applied for flights to Manchester this season.