§ Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to bring about the ending of the Saturday night rule as it applies to cheap air fares to European destinations.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerOur aim is to secure freedom for airlines to introduce new types and levels of air fares, in accordance with their commercial judgment, rather than to prohibit particular conditions (like the Saturday night rule) which airlines may choose to apply to some tickets. This freedom is a feature of the liberal aviation arrangements which we now have with five European countries and is something for which we are pressing in current EC negotiations.