Written question asked by David Wilshire (Conservative) on Wednesday, 7 July 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 16 July 2004. It was answered by Tony McNulty (Labour) on Friday, 16 July 2004 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Dept for Transport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations his Department has made to the European Commission on the issues of state aid for (a) Alitalia and (b) other European airlines.

Answer: Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations his Department has made to the European Commission on the issues of state aid for (a) Alitalia and (b) other European airlines. [183296] Mr. McNulty: Officials are in contact with the European Commission about a proposed rescue package for Alitalia to be underwritten by the Italian Government. We have made no recent representations to the Commission about aid for other European airlines. We have no reason to believe that the Commission will be other than firm in its application of state aid rules in the aviation sector.

Secondary information