§ Mr. John MacKayasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied with the speed at which the Eurocontrol costs of the Civil Aviation Authority are being balanced by charges for this service.
§ Mr. TebbitNo. At present the nominal rate of cost recovery is 90 per cent., but since charges are based upon actual costs in a past year, the revenue is seldom adequate to cover that percentage of the current costs. Furthermore, the Eurocontrol charge is in United States dollars, the value of which relative to the pound has declined since 1977. I hope that the rate of recovery in 1981–82 will be 100 per cent.; and that soon afterwards Governments will agree that the charges will be based upon budgeted costs for the year, instead of costs in a past year.