HC Deb 29 April 1985 vol 78 cc26-7W
Mr. Arnold

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Answer of 19 April, Official Report, column 281, if he will give the reasons why the Manchester services for which Singapore International Airlines has applied do not fall within the terms of the existing air services arrangements; and if he will place a copy of these arrangements in the Library.

Mr. Michael Spicer

Air services between the United Kingdom and Singapore are governed by the air services agreement of 12 January 1971 as amended by exchanges of notes in 1976, 1978 and 1980. The agreement and subsequent exchanges have been published in the treaty series as Cmnd. 4619, 6622, 7431 and 7988. Copies are in the Library.

The agreement as amended provides for SIA as a designated airline of Singapore to be entitled to operate scheduled services from Singapore over certain named intermediate points to London. There is no provision in the agreement for services to Manchester. As I told my hon. Friend on 19 April, however, consultations between the aeronautical authorities will take place early next month to consider the Singaporean request for permission to operate such services.