§ Mr. TrotterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the percentage increase in air fares likely to arise on routes between the United Kingdom and other European Community countries as a result of higher airport charges and lower income for airlines if the current duty free allowances are withdrawn from such services.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe EC has yet to make a decision on whether or not to abolish duty free allowances after 1992. If they were to be abolished, there would be an effect on the income of airport operators and airlines. The time scale of any abolition, the competitive conditions in the market and the commercial response of airport operators and airlines are among the variables which make it impossible to give accurate estimates of any possible effect on air fares.