§ Mr. Robert Atkinsasked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement on his review of the aviation security fund levy.
§ Mr. SproatIn February this year, I invited all sides of the civil aviation industry to submit to the Department their comments on the present organisation and financing of aviation security in the United Kingdom, and to make recommendations on how the existing arrangements might be improved. The submissions received concentrated on the aviation security fund, with some recommending that it should be wound up, and others recommending that it should continue. The arguments for and against the fund are finely balanced, but, after weighing them all carefully, I have concluded that the financing of security would be 627W more straightforward, bureaucracy would be substantially reduced, and the incentives to carry out security measures efficiently would be increased, if there were no fund, and airports and airlines simply financed security costs in the same way as their other operating expenditure. Accordingly, I have decided that the fund should be wound up with effect from 31 March next. Detailed arrangements will be announced as soon as possible. The Department will continue to set and monitor security standards at airports in the United Kingdom, and I am confident that we may continue to count on the co-operation of airports and airlines in the implementation of recommended measures. But if the need arose I would be prepared to use the powers conferred by the Protection of Aircraft Act 1973 to ensure that proper standards are maintained.