HC Deb 23 February 1976 vol 906 cc107-8W
Sir P. Bryan

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give figures to show the expansion in the public sector of education in providing more places for handicapped children in Hong Kong over the last three years. I was directed to tell you that with the substantial exception referred to in the following paragraph the Authority is content with the new Guidance. The Authority, however, instructed me to convey to you that it dissents from the provisions of paragraph 7 of the draft of the new Guidance in so far as they are intended to and would have the effect of inhibiting the Authority from granting even in the most exceptional circumstances an Air Transport licence to more than one British airline on the same route. This would severely limit the use of the licensing system to secure improvements in air services over the main air routes otherwise than at the discretion of the monopoly carrier. It would also inhibit, inter alia, the licensing of experimental services such as Skytrain, and remove the possibility of the Authority using its licensing powers to deal effectively with circumstances at present unforeseen unless and until further amendments were made in the Guidance. I have therefore to inform you that the Civil Aviation Authority disagrees with these provisions. I have no objection to your laying this letter before Parliament if you feel this is a convenient method of reporting the outcome of your consultation with the Authority.