§ Mr. ShersbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to initiate a pan-European airline deregulation campaign as a prerequisite to an open skies environment between Europe and the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe United Kingdom Government have been and continue to be in the forefront of the pursuit of aviation liberalisation in Europe, both multilaterally in the EC and bilaterally. Wherever possible, we have been taking steps to pursue similar liberalisation elsewhere in the world. Discussions on liberalisation with the United States are at an early stage. Our aim will be to remove obstacles to fair competition, which hinder our airlines at present, and to remove unnecessary regulation.