§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether British Airways was compensated(a) directly or (b) indirectly by public funds in order to make available landing slots at Heathrow airport to Malaysian Airlines in 1989; and whether this agreement was linked to the aid and trade arrangement or arms sales arrangement with Malaysia agreed under the revised protocol of June 1988 between the United Kingdom and Malaysia.
§ Mr. NorrisI have been asked to reply.
On the question of compensation for British Airways, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Williams) on 15 February, column 731, which made it clear that there was no compensation to British Airways either directly or indirectly from public funds. The revised air services arrangements agreed in 1989 were not linked to aid and trade provision or arms sales.