§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he was first notified of the problems facing the Southend council and the Miracle Bus Company in securing permission from the West German Government to provide a bus from Ostend to Germany to connect with a plane from Southend airport; and if he will set out the action taken by his Department since that time.
§ Mrs. ChalkerMy Department was first informed of the problems involved in setting up this service to Frankfurt in June 1986. Since then we have held many discussions with the German and Belgium authorities and with the European commission. Agreement was subsequently reached that the service should be authorised and I understand the British operator hopes to start the service at the end of this month.