Written question asked by Peter Fry (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 January 1997. It was answered by John Bowis (Conservative) on Monday, 13 January 1997 on behalf of the Department of Transport.

Dept of Transport

Question: Pursuant to his Answer of 26th November, Official Report, column 660W, when his officials have discussed with the Civil Aviation Authority the issue of commissioning a balance of benefits study in relation to the renegotiation of the US-UK Air Service Agreements (Bermuda II); and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the analysis in relation to the bilateral talks.

Answer: Sir Peter Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 29 November, Official Report, column 420-21, when his officials have discussed with the Civil Aviation Authority the issue of commissioning a balance of benefits study in relation to the renegotiation of the US-UK Air Service Agreements (Bermuda II); and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the analysis in relation to the bilateral talks. [10292] Mr. Bowis: Officials regularly discuss UK-US aviation matters with the Civil Aviation Authority, and such discussions have included the feasibility of an overarching "balance of benefits" study of liberalising UK-US air services. We decided not to instruct the CAA to undertake such an analysis: 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. I am however satisfied that UK negotiations are fully briefed for the current series of bilateral talks.

Secondary information