§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) why the Common Market has declined to authorise the purchase by the Leeward Islands Air Transport Company of British aircraft; and why it has urged the company to purchase planes produced in France;
(2) if he will make a statement outlining the powers which the Common Market has exercised to urge the Leeward Islands Air Transport Company to buy French planes instead of the British planes which it wishes to purchase.
§ Mr. RaisonThe 11 Caribbean Governments who own Leeward Islands Air Transport have requested assistance from the European Development Fund and the European Investment Bank to purchase four aircraft. Under the terms of the Lomé Convention the European Commission is responsible for managing the EDF, and must ensure, when contracts are financed from it, that the economically most advantageous offer is accepted. I understand that, having examined several bids submitted after an invitation to tender, the Commission has informed LIAT that it considers a French offer to be economically the most advantageous. This view is contested by LIAT and the latest information I have is that discussions are continuing between LIAT and the Commission.