§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations he has received from people with package tours booked to the Soviet Union about the terms of cancellation of tours and the eligibility for refunds, in the light of the Government's advice to avoid travelling to certain areas of the Soviet Union; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether he will initiate urgent discussions with tour companies with a view to ensuring that they observe a common practice in repayment of deposits to travellers cancelling visits to the Soviet Union on the basis of Her Majesty's Government's advice in the light of the recent nuclear accident at Chernobyl; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Howard[pursuant to his reply, 13 May 1986, c. 410]: I have received no representations concerning the cancellation of package tours to the Soviet Union, nor am I planning to initiate discussions with tour companies on the subject of repayment of deposits. Such matters will be governed by the terms of individual contracts between travellers and tour operators by the terms of any insurance arrangements and by any particular voluntary agreements reached by the parties to those contracts in the special circumstances.