§ Mr. Sandelsonasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement following his consultations with the civilian aviation industry, on the implementation of the Government's decision 659W to transfer the cost of civil aviation security measures from the taxpayer to the industry from 1st April 1978.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisI have decided that there should be a special fund out of which I may reimburse security costs under the Protection of Aircraft Act 1973 and the Policing of Airports Act 1974, and from which my Department will recover its related administration costs. The fund will be financed by a levy made on 28 airports by the Secretary of State. Initially the levy is expected to be at a rate of 80p per arriving passenger, and the airport authorities will be responsible for paying it monthly to the Secretary of State for the fund. The 28 airports are those which have a public licence from, or are owned by, the Civil Aviation Authority and which had more than 50,000 passengers in the latest year for which statistics are available. It is envisaged that the rate of the levy will be varied each year beginning 1st April, and the Department of Trade will announce the level of charges and any charges in the list of airports in the previous September. The necessary legislative provision will be included in a Bill to be introduced as soon as the parliamentary situation permits.
§ Mr. Sandelsonasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will take steps to phase out the use of private security agencies for passenger searching at United Kingdom airports.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisPassenger searching at Luton airport has been carried out by Airport Authority staff since this security measure became necessary. At Newcastle airport a certain amount of passenger searching is carried out by Airport Authority staff. On 1st January 1977 Manchester International Airport Authority staff assumed responsibility for all passengers searching at Manchester airport. My officials have had discussions with the British Airports Authority which have led to proposals by the Authority that it should assume similar responsibilities for passenger searching at its seven airports. I have asked the British Airports Authority to proceed with the arrangements which it has proposed gradually to phase out the use of private security agencies for passenger searching at BAA Airports. This will naturally take some660W time, but I hope that the changeover can be completed during 1978.