§ Mr. McCrindleTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made to achieve a common policy on handling and preventing air piracy and terrorist action against airlines and passengers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe prevention of acts of unlawful interference with civil aviation, and the development of procedures for dealing with them when they occur, is regarded as a high priority by both the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the European civil aviation conference. Both have developed international standards and guidance material for preventive measures, and they keep these under constant review.
ICAO has sponsored the development of three international conventions (the Tokyo, Hague and Montreal conventions), which together establish an international legal framework making acts of unlawful interference into international offences for which signatory states will either bring suspects in their custody to justice or permit their extradition to another competent state, and providing for the re-establishment of lawful control in cases where aircraft have been seized.