§ Mr. SnapeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, when he next meets the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, he will discuss the criteria to be used at the route licence hearings involving the former British Caledonian routes from Gatwick to Nice, Oslo, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIn view of his appellate role, it would be improper for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to discuss individual cases with the chairman. The authority will consider these applications on the evidence and arguments presented, in the light of its duties and its current statement of air transport licensing policies.
§ Mr. SnapeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications of the decision by the Civil Aviation Authority not to award the Gatwick-Brussels route formerly operated by British Caledonian Airways to British Airways for Her Majesty's Government's policy on competition and consumer choice in aviation.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State does not comment on the implications of specific licensing decisions which may be subject to appeal to him.