asked the Minister for Trade whether arrangements have been made for the investigation of the activities of the Civil Aviation Authority by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

My right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State for Trade announced in March of this year that the Civil Aviation Authority would be included in the 1982 programme of references under section 11 of the Competition Act 1980. This section provides for scrutiny of the efficiency of nationalised industries and other public sector bodies. Arrangements are in hand to refer the authority to the commission under this provision later in the year.