THOMSON HOLIDAYS

Early day motion 429, tabled 14 January 2004 by John Smith (Labour). Signed by 42 members.

That this House notes with regret the decision by Thomson Holidays to redraft its terms and conditions of service so that in future, holiday-makers can no longer claim for damage to their health suffered whilst on board an aircraft; believes that, by choosing to hide behind the outdated Warsaw Convention of 1929, this is an abdication of the company's responsibilities to the well-being of their customers who have purchased a service from them in good faith; calls upon the tour operator to re-think its decision to change the contract that enabled seventy people to claim compensation for damage to their psychological health following the terrifying crash landing of a Britannia Airways plane in Gerona in September 1999; congratulates leading transport lawyer Mr Mark Harvey of Hugh James Solicitors in successfully bringing this case to court; endorses his view that this decision is deplorable, especially as there is nothing passengers can do to protect themselves as travel insurance does not cover such injuries; shares the view that such a policy adopted by this company could be construed by some to be immoral; and calls upon her Majesty's Government, as a matter of urgency, to place the same basic responsibilities in law on airlines as any other passenger carriers.

Signatures by party: Labour 29, Liberal Democrat 6, Labour/Co-operative 3, DUP 2, Plaid Cymru 2.