§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he intends taking to seek to persuade the European Commission to amend the 1983 directive on the regional air services agreement to remove the 70-seat and 30-tonne weight limit on aircraft; and what other amendments to the directive he wishes to see implemented.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyA European Commission proposal for amendment of the inter-regional air services directive 1983 is being discussed in the Council's transport working group. The proposal, if adopted, would remove the 70 seat limit and 30 tonne weight limit and would also make it easier to establish new inter-regional air services. We wish to see all these amendments implemented.