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The court of appeal case in 1976- Laker Airways v. the Department of Trade-made a change in the guidelines inevitable. It would not be given to any mere mortal to arrive at a change that brought about universal acclamation from British Airways, British Caledonian, Laker Airways and all the other private operators. Indeed, to bring forward such -universal acclamation from all of these o would lead me to wonder whether our policy was right or whether it would not eventually founder in recrimination.
There is, inherent in a sound policy policy for awarding routes, a strong element of tension. I do not expect that tension to disappear. I shall have done a good job if none of our airlines is entirely happy. That would indicate that we had achieved a degree of impartiality and a balance in our proposals.
Sir Anthony Royle (Richmond, Sur- rey): When my right hon. Friend talks about balance between the various air- lines and makes the point that none of them should feel badly done by, will he take note of the fact that in this Bill he docs not appear to change the position of airlines that are in fact British but are not based within the United Kingdom? One such airline is Cathay Pacific, which is in this position and is therefore at a signifi- cant disadvantage in competing for routes in the future. My hon. Friend the Mem- ber for Howden (Sir P. Bryan) will raise this matter in more detail in his speech, and I hope that my right hon. Friend will take it into account.
Mr. Nott: I shall certainly take ac- count of that point when I hear my hon. Friend the Member for Howden (Sir P. Bryan) speak. If any of my hon. Friends wishes to come forward with particular points that affect non-British airlines with a close connection with this country, or airlines that are British but are not based in this country, he may table amendments in Committee and we shall be glad to look at them.
Although the changes give more authority to the Civil Aviation Authority,
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