§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had to date about the need for increased competition on major air routes from Heathrow to western Europe.
§ Mr. McLoughlinMy right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has received a number of recent representations concerning aviation competition in Europe.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to conduct a further review of competition policy on western European air routes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinMy right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has no present plans to undertake a review of competition policy on air routes in western Europe.
A primary United Kingdom objective in the liberalisation of air transport within Europe remains the creation of conditions in which fair and open competition between carriers can flourish. Progress towards this objective has already been achieved. Current EC regulations together with our bilateral arrangements presently provide the scope for more than one airline of each country concerned to serve the major western European routes.
We expect the EC Commission's proposals for the third stage in the creation of the single market to provide further opportunities for airlines by opening up all intra-Community routes to competition. It is for Governments to create these opportunities and for airlines to take them up.