§ 19. Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he plans to seek renegotiation of the United Kingdom-Australian bilateral agreement on air services between the two countries.
§ Mr. Clinton Davis :I have no plans to seek renegotiation of the United King- 26W dom-Australia bilateral agreement on air services.
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the present position regarding air services between Denmark and the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Clinton Davis :Our general air services relations with Denmark are excellent and there is full co-operation between British Airways and Scandinavian Airlines System. Recently the Danish authorities refused to issue operating permission for a service between Birmingham and Copenhagen by British Midland Airways, an action which Her Majesty's Government consider to be a breach of our Air Services Agreement. We felt obliged to take counter-measures in respect of certain SAS services operating to the United Kingdom under temporary permit. We are in contact with the Danish authorities and discussions are expected to take place shortly which, I hope, will resolve the issue.