Charter Flights

HC Deb 04 August 1971 vol 822 cc310-1W

Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has concluded his review into the regulations affecting charter flights; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Noble

No. As I have told the House on a number of occasions, changes cannot be made quickly in this field.

Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take steps to ensure that a representative of the Department is always on duty at each British airport at or from which overseas charter flights land and take off, in order to assist and advise stranded passengers.

Mr. Noble

No. It is the responsibility of the travel organiser to make appropriate arrangements.

Mr. Leslie Huckfield

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what policy recommendations have been given by his Department to those participating at the International Air Transport Association Conference in Montreal about rules and regulations governing affinity group charter flights.

Mr. Noble

None, but we have made it clear that we hope the conference will agree on fares that will enable the scheduled services to tap the mass air travel market.

Mr. Leslie Huckfield

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will endorse the proposals made by the United States Civil Aeronautics Board, details of which are in his possession, for a reform of the regulations governing affinity group charter flights; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Noble

I am considering these and other proposals but, as I have made clear on a number of occasions, any changes must take account of the different interests of holiday and business travellers, of the concern of British airlines to get a fair share of the traffic and of the need to move in step with other countries if the traffic is to flow.

Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will hold an inquiry into allegations that officials in his Department have been in receipt of bribes from operators of charter flight companies, details of which are in his possession.

Mr. Noble

I have nothing to add to my reply to the right hon. Member for Barnsley (Mr. Mason) on 3rd August, 1971.