§ Mr. ThorntonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is his policy on the recent proposal by the European Community Commission to take responsibility on behalf of European Community member states for aviation negotiations with non-European Community countries; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what is his policy towards the application of the liberalisation principles currently being applied to bilateral aviation relations within the European Community to international aviation agreements between the United Kingdom and non-European Community countries; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinWe continue to seek liberal aviation arrangements both bilaterally and within the European Community. At its March meeting, the Council of Transport Ministers agreed in principle that negotiations should get under way with the countries of the European Free Trade Association on a package of civil aviation measures and asked the Commission to produce more specific proposals for this. We are considering the Commission's proposal about responsibility for aviation negotiations with non-EC countries.