Written question asked by Michael Fallon (Conservative) on Wednesday, 1 March 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 6 March 2006. It was answered by Karen Buck (Labour) on Friday, 10 March 2006 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Air Transport Users Council

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the (a) independence and (b) efficiency of the Air Transport Users Council.

Answer: [holding answer 6 March 2006]: The Air Transport Users Council (AUC) was set up by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to assist it in its statutory duty to further the reasonable interests of users of air transport services. The Government reviewed this arrangement during the preparation of the White Paper on the Future of Air Transport (2003). It concluded that the arrangement enabled the AUC to function independently of the air transport industry and that it remained a suitable model for representation of air passenger interests in the UK.The AUC is accountable to the CAA for its efficiency through the CAA's business planning process.

Secondary information