§ Mr. Rossiasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has now looked at the ceilings of compensation under the Warsaw Convention 1929 and completed his consultations with his right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary thereon; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will cause a review to be undertaken of the maximum compensation of £7,000 payable for death in air accidents under the Warsaw Convention and Guatemala Convention.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisWe are in touch with my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary but, as my right hon. Friend indicated on 14th March, these are matters involving other countries, and it would be unrealistic to hold out expectations of the early entry into force of the Guatemala Protocol, which would substantially increase the limit of liability. Before the DC10 disaster the Civil Aviation Authority, as a first step, had already been in contact with United Kingdom airlines about the possible provision of a higher limit of liability than that prescribed in the Warsaw Convention, as amended by the Hague Protocol. I would hope that this might be followed by action on a wider front. In the meantime, British Airways has responded by agreeing to apply from 1st April a limit of liability of £25,000 in respect of contracts of carriage governed by the Warsaw Convention and performed on British Airways services.
62WThe sterling equivalent of the limit under the Warsaw-Hague arrangements is adjusted from time to time to take account of currency fluctuations. The latest adjustment, made by order under the Carriage by Air Act 1961, which applies at the time awards are made, sets the sterling equivalent at £8,723.
§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied with the reporting of near accidents in the air; and if he will consult with IATA to ensure that all near accidents are investigated and the conclusions are acted upon.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisThis is a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority.
§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will review the arrangements for communications and advice to relatives of those concerned in aircraft accidents and establish continuing standby arrangements for such accidents.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisMy Department has recently reviewed United Kingdom airlines' post-accident procedures. These are now designed to ensure that, so far as possible, communication delays will be avoided and that next of kin will thus be spared needless distress.
Foreign airlines are responsible for their own arrangements, but the principal airlines operating into this country are aware of the special facilities available at the accident centre at Heathrow which could be put at their disposal if needed. These were utilised following the Turkish Airlines DC10 disaster near Paris on 3rd March.