§ Mr. StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on progress in the renegotiation of the US-UK air service agreements (Bermuda II); [7123]
(2) when he expects the renegotiation of the US-UK air service agreements (Bermuda II) to be completed. [7121]
§ Mr. BowisThe next round of negotiations with the US on air services will take place on 4 to 6 December. It is not possible to predict when an agreement might be concluded.
§ Mr. StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he asked the Civil Aviation Authority to conduct a balance of benefits analysis in relation to the renegotiation of the US-UK air service agreements (Bermuda II).[7122]
§ Mr. BowisWe have not asked the Civil Aviation Authority to conduct a balance of benefits analysis in relation to the current renegotiation of the UK-US air services agreement. The number of variables which would need to be taken into account, and assumptions which would have to be made, would make it impossible to model results which could be treated with any confidence. We understand, however, that the CAA has contributed to the Office of Fair Trading's analysis of the proposed British Airways-American Airlines alliance.