§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Adley) on 18 June, Official Report, column 18, if he will list in detail the latest data concerning the development of air traffic on the London-Kuala Lumpur route and the arrangements agreed between the aeronautical authorities of Malaysia and the United Kingdom to which he referred; and what reasons were given by Malaysian Air Services for its wishing to increase the flight frequencies.
§ Mr. David MitchellMalaysian Airline System's passengers originating in Kuala Lumpur and travelling to London and vice versa currently average about 650 per week. Under current arrangements MAS have capacity to carry 2,480. The details of the arrangements are confidential, but the basic principle governing them is that MAS capacity on their Kuala Lumpur-London services should be primarily related to the requirements of traffic originating from and destined for Kuala Lumpur. At the consultations the Malaysians were not able to establish a case for additional capacity under the agreed mechanism which embodies this principle.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is satisfied that in refusing at the latest bilateral talks to allow any increase in flight frequencies between Kuala Lumpur and London he is promoting the general interests of passengers and general trading interests; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellI am satisfied that the air services currently operated between Malaysia and the United Kingdom provide capacity which is very adequate for the carriage of passengers and cargo intended for travel between our two countries.