§ 24. Mr. Woodasked the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has about the effects on consumers on domestic air routes of liberalisation of the airline industry in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThere is clear evidence that the introduction of competition on domestic routes has benefited consumers through improved levels of service and a wider range of fares. Furthermore, traffic on the Edinburgh and Glasgow trunk routes from London, for example, has grown faster since the introduction of competing services at Heathrow than might have been expected by comparison with growth on other major domestic routes.
§ 28. Mr. Squireasked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he expects at the next Council of Transport Ministers towards liberalisation of aviation in Europe.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerAt the last Transport Council, six member states opposed our proposals for allowing the introduction of cheaper air fares. We are now trying to persuade these countries to change their minds and in the light of these bilateral discussions we will decide how best to take work forward at the December Council and in whatever ways are appropriate thereafter.
§ 40. Mr. Gerald Howarthasked the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the contribution of the United Kingdom's air transport industry to the national economy.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerAs I said in my reply to my hon. Friend the member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Stern) on 3 November 1986 at column 348, civil aviation directly provides about 80,0000 jobs in the United Kingdom. In 1985 British airlines contributed some £650 million to the balance of payments. About £29 billion of our visible trade last year passed through United Kingdom airports.