(2) what measures will be used to ensure that the European Aviation Safety Authority is qualified to carry out the certification of aircraft and aircraft components.

(2) what measures will be used to ensure that the European Aviation Safety Authority is qualified to carry out the certification of aircraft and aircraft components.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the (a) resources and (b) data available to the European Aviation Safety Agency to carry out the full range of its responsibilities;

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the (a) resources and (b) data available to the European Aviation Safety Agency to carry out the full range of its responsibilities;

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The Secretary of State for Transport told the Select Committee that he would seek our dispensation so that he could today make a statement on financial protection for air passengers. I understand that this, the most controversial part of the Bill, will not...

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The Secretary of State for Transport told the Select Committee that he would seek our dispensation so that he could today make a statement on financial protection for air passengers. I understand that this, the most controversial part of the Bill, will not...

My hon. Friend will be aware that there was a failure during the summer. Although it received astonishingly little publicity, there is no doubt that a lot of people were stranded. It happened to be convenient that many people got on other planes. She should seriously consider the fact that...

My hon. Friend will be aware that there was a failure during the summer. Although it received astonishingly little publicity, there is no doubt that a lot of people were stranded. It happened to be convenient that many people got on other planes. She should seriously consider the fact that...

: This is an extraordinarily incompetent piece of legislation. It misses most of the things that are important. I am concerned in particular about financial protection for air travellers. That should have been debated at great length. The original scheme, which was tailored for a particular set of circumstances, has...

: This is an extraordinarily incompetent piece of legislation. It misses most of the things that are important. I am concerned in particular about financial protection for air travellers. That should have been debated at great length. The original scheme, which was tailored for a particular set of circumstances, has...

My hon. Friend will be aware that many travellers, because of the way tickets and holidays are purchased nowadays, have no idea that, if any of the companies became bankrupt, they would be stranded with no rights of return and no support. Will he give us a firm assurance that...

My hon. Friend will be aware that many travellers, because of the way tickets and holidays are purchased nowadays, have no idea that, if any of the companies became bankrupt, they would be stranded with no rights of return and no support. Will he give us a firm assurance that...

: British Airways may offer places where it has spaces available, but there is no guarantee that because an airline is large it will not go bankrupt. At least six major airlines are in extremely doubtful financial positions. British Airways does not happen to be one of them at the...

: British Airways may offer places where it has spaces available, but there is no guarantee that because an airline is large it will not go bankrupt. At least six major airlines are in extremely doubtful financial positions. British Airways does not happen to be one of them at the...

: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

The hon. Gentleman has said something very interesting. Does he assume that this approach will relate only to people who live in houses that are affected by decisions in the civil aviation sector, or is he thinking of extending the theory to cover people who are disturbed by roads?

The hon. Gentleman has said something very interesting. Does he assume that this approach will relate only to people who live in houses that are affected by decisions in the civil aviation sector, or is he thinking of extending the theory to cover people who are disturbed by roads?

That is because I am right.

That is because I am right.

My hon. Friend will also be aware that I was a Minister when the original scheme was introduced and I can assure him that it was introduced because Her Majesty’s Government were extraordinarily embarrassed at finding themselves with thousands of British citizens on various holidays who, without protection, were unable...

My hon. Friend will also be aware that I was a Minister when the original scheme was introduced and I can assure him that it was introduced because Her Majesty’s Government were extraordinarily embarrassed at finding themselves with thousands of British citizens on various holidays who, without protection, were unable...

My hon. Friend has been astonishingly kind in giving way. It takes a long time to get civil aviation before the House. That is not a new thing. If he really believes the rather weak and—forgive me—wholly indefensible arguments he has put up this afternoon, will he give me a...

My hon. Friend has been astonishingly kind in giving way. It takes a long time to get civil aviation before the House. That is not a new thing. If he really believes the rather weak and—forgive me—wholly indefensible arguments he has put up this afternoon, will he give me a...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether armed marshals are being deployed on British aircraft; and what information is being given to the captain of the aircraft.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether armed marshals are being deployed on British aircraft; and what information is being given to the captain of the aircraft.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, whether his Department will appeal against the European Court ruling on night flights at Heathrow; and if he will make a statement; if the decision by the European Court on night operations at Heathrow will change Government...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, whether his Department will appeal against the European Court ruling on night flights at Heathrow; and if he will make a statement; if the decision by the European Court on night operations at Heathrow will change Government...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what tests have been undertaken on the level of interference by mobile telephones on the safety of aircraft; what tests are planned on the effect of such telephones on aircraft safety; what guidance his Department has given...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what tests have been undertaken on the level of interference by mobile telephones on the safety of aircraft; what tests are planned on the effect of such telephones on aircraft safety; what guidance his Department has given...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the result of the trials on the effects of mobile phones on flight safety carried out by the CAA; what recommendations have been made by the CAA as a result...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the result of the trials on the effects of mobile phones on flight safety carried out by the CAA; what recommendations have been made by the CAA as a result...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many instances of pressure on commercial pilots to lower safety standards have been registered in the confidential reporting system in the last 12 months. - Inc figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many instances of pressure on commercial pilots to lower safety standards have been registered in the confidential reporting system in the last 12 months. - Inc figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the Safety Regulation Group of the CAA will publish guidelines on wiring and flight fire.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the Safety Regulation Group of the CAA will publish guidelines on wiring and flight fire.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many 737 aircraft have been inspected by independent inspectors. - Inc figure.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many 737 aircraft have been inspected by independent inspectors. - Inc figure.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps is the Government taking to ensure that rudders of UK-registered 737 aircraft are fault free.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps is the Government taking to ensure that rudders of UK-registered 737 aircraft are fault free.