§ Mr. WhiteTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many tour operators, broken down by sector, over each of the last three years, have been investigated for trading without a licence. [25308]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Civil Aviation Authority, which operates the Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (ATOL) scheme, has advised that the number of travel organisers investigated for trading without holding an ATOL in each of the last three years is as follows:
- 1995: 685
- 1996: 1,122
- 1997: 1,449
To break down these figures further would involve disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. WhiteTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many companies the Civil Aviation Authority licensed as tour operators, broken down by sector, over each of the last three years. [25307]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Civil Aviation Authority issued the following number of new Air Travel Organisers' Licences in each of the last three years:
- 1995: 379
- 1996: 360
- 1997: 192
The total number of licence holders as at December of each year, broken down into the various ATOL categories, is as follows:
Year Fully Scheduled Agency Wholesale Total 1995 1,199 145 17 n/a 1,361 1996 1,301 186 63 105 1,655 1997 1,336 196 60 124 1,716 Fully: fully bonded business—schedule or charter-based inclusive packages and also seat only sales on charter flights.
Scheduled: scheduled bonded business—consolidators and other firms that sell air tickets on a seat only basis but do not provide tickets immediately.
Agency: consolidators that sell discounted air tickets as agents of scheduled airlines.
Wholesale: licences held by companies set up by established tour operators for tax purposes.
230W
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe latest figures held centrally relating to the overall passenger rail network are contained in the British Railways Board's annual reports and accounts. The relevant figures for the financial years 1990–91 to 1994–95 are shown in the table. The rolling stock leasing companies, who now own most of the passenger rolling stock, were privatised in 1995. Figures for subsequent years are not held centrally.