§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Trade why he has issued a directive to the Civil Aviation Authority that applications for reduced rate fares to Scandinavian destinations should not be heard at present; and if he will confirm that this does not represent a general change of policy in relation to Civil Aviation 611W Authority decisions on similar hearings involving other European destinations.
§ Mr. TebbitThe direction, which does not represent any general change in policy, applies only to services between Gatwick and Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. It was issued because under our civil aviation arrangements with the Scandinavian countries we saw no prospect of being able to secure the necessary traffic rights for these services had licences been granted, irrespective of the fares to be charged. It is wasteful to allow time and money to be spent on hearing applications for services which cannot in practice be operated.