US-UK Bilateral Air Agreements

HC Deb 22 February 1994 vol 238 c120W

Mr. Matthew Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he is making in talks on the US-UK bilateral air agreements; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Norris

The United Kingdom tabled a liberalisation proposal in December which goes much further than anything we have previously offered. It takes a phased approach offering immediate complete liberalisation of all UK-US services except those involving Heathrow and Gatwick and offers real commercial opportunities at those two airports.

I hope that the United States will recognise our proposal as a serious one and agree to meet us around the negotiating table soon so that we can achieve a deal by 19 April, as agreed between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and his United States counterpart last year.