§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on how many occasions, in the last year for which figures are available, action was taken to prosecute airlines for contravention of article 88 of the Air Navigation Order 1989;
(2) what means he uses to enforce regulations designated by article 88 of the Air Navigation Order 1989, in respect of foreign-registered airlines;
(3) what sanctions are available against airlines which persistently fail to meet requirements laid down by article 88 of the Air Navigation Order 1989.
§ Mr. NorrisArticle 67 of the order enables the Secretary of State to revoke, suspend or vary any permit issued under article 88. Article 99 provides that any contravention of the order may be treated as a prosecutable offence. Where there is prime faciae evidence of a breach of article 88, the Secretary of State will investigate, normally with the help of the Civil Aviation Authority. If he is then satisfied that a breach has occurred, he may have recourse to the penalties provided under articles 67 and 99 of the Air Navigation Order. No central records of prosecutions under article 88 are maintained, though it is rare for reported breaches to require prosecution action. It is more usual for action to take the form of a written warning for first offenders, or, in the case of more persistent offenders or where a more serious breach has occurred, a suspension, revocation or variation of the article 88 permit.