HL Deb 15 March 1978 vol 389 cc1467-8WA
Baroness BURTON of COVENTRY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, with respect to the Civil Aviation Bill, there will be a breakdown of security costs by category and amount, and, if so, whether these details will be made available to—

  1. (a) Parliament,
  2. (b) airlines,
  3. (c) airline users.

Lord ORAM

The breakdown of aviation security costs for the years 1977–78 and 1978–79 is estimated as follows:

£'000
1977–78 1978–79
Searching 7,100 9,300
Security staff 3,400 3,700
Police 3,200 3,500
Protection of aircraft 500 800
Capital 500 600
Security training — 250
R & D — 10
Administration — 150
Contingency — 500
14,700 18,810

It is estimated that about 25.5 million passengers will arrive by air during 1978–79 at aerodromes which are owned or managed by the Civil Aviation Authority or which are licensed for public use within the meaning of the Air Navigation Order 1976 as amended. The levy will not be made with reference to the first 2,000 passengers per month at each of 28 airports (672,000); with reference to passengers or aircraft not operating for hire or reward (estimate 200,000); persons under the age of 3 (estimate 250,000); passengers or aircraft under 5 tonnes maximum total weight authorised (estimate 400,000). These actual or estimated exemptions together with passengers arriving at the 28 airports not included for levy purposes (150,000) suggest a total of about 24 million passengers on which the levy will be based. This produces a rate per arriving passenger of 78.3p; The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Companies Aviation and Shipping announced a rate of 80p on 22nd November 1977 [Official Report, Vol. 939, No. 14. Written Answers, col. 619].

The estimates which have been summarised and brought up to date above have already been given to Members of Parliament involved in the Committee stage of the Bill and to representatives of the industry at the recent Consultation meeting. These included representatives of airlines, aerodrome authorities, the travel industry, the Airline Users' Committee, IATA, and the trade unions.

House adjourned at two minutes past eight o'clock.