§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress on the reform of the Warsaw Convention, with particular reference to(a) the cap on compensation awards, (b) compensation for psychiatric injury and (c) ratification of the Montreal Convention. [118695]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe 1999 Montreal Convention is intended to consolidate, update and eventually replace all previous international agreements on air carrier liability, including the 1929 Warsaw Convention. The Warsaw Convention will be subject to no further amendment or reform. The Montreal Convention removes liability limits in relation to claims for death and injury to passengers, but retains limits in relation to delay and baggage claims. The Montreal Convention does not acknowledge psychiatric injury as a separate head of claims. The UK is ready to ratify the Montreal Convention but since it contains issues that are subject to Community competence we are waiting until all 15 members of the EU are in a position simultaneously to deposit their instruments of ratification.