§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement about his meeting with the Chairman and Secretary General of the International Air Transport Association concerning the proposal by Her Majesty's Government to recover the costs of aviation security provided at international airports within the United Kingdom by charging airline passengers for this service.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisI met Mr. Hammarskjold, the Secretary General of IATA, and Mr. Floyd Hall, the Chairman of its Executive Committee, on 18th February. I explained that, as part of their proposals to reduce public expenditure the Government had decided in principle that the cost of aviation security should be transferred from the taxpayer to the industry from 1st April 1978, and consultations are in progress on how to implement this decision. IATA raised a number of economic and legal objections 739W to this proposal, and asked that the decision should be reconsidered. I pointed out that several other countries, such as USA, Australia and Canada, already made charges for aviation security. I drew attention to the Government's powers under the Protection of Aircraft Act 1973 to enforce security standards, and emphasised that there would be no reduction of these standards. I explained that my right hon. Friend and I had carefully considered the arguments which IATA and other representatives of the industry had put forward but had concluded that the Government should not alter their decision, for which legislation may be required.