Peers’ raise concerns over travel

Peers have raised concerns the UK Government has advised airlines to put disclaimers on tickets dated after Brexit Day to protect against compensation claims.

Lib Dem Baroness Doocey put the suggestion to ministers in the House of Lords.

But Tory Lord Bates, responding for the government, insisted he had received no evidence of such a proposal.

He also came under pressure from former Gordon MP Lord Bruce of Bennachie, who highlighted warnings from airlines and ports of “disruption, delays, cancellations and gridlock” that could cause “uncertainty over health and travel cover”.

Baroness Doocey said: “Can the minister confirm guidance has been given to airlines to protect themselves from compensation claims by putting a disclaimer on all airline tickets dated after 29 March next year?”

Lord Bates, who is minister for international development, replied: “I have received no evidence that that has been proposed.

“We have been quite clear we want those important travel agreements to continue.”

In March, Ryanair raised the possibility of selling tickets with Brexit caveats amid increasing fears of a no deal outcome.

And last night a spokesman told tThe Press and Journal the firm’s summer 2019 schedule was “subject to the regulatory environment allowing these flights to take place”.

A technical notice on the Department for Transport’s website, explains that in the event of no-deal, UK and EU licensed airlines would lose the automatic right to operate air services between the UK and the EU without seeking advance permission.

Former Lib Dem deputy leader Lord Bruce warned disruption could lead to people finding themselves in the EU without compensation for delays or cancellations or without health cover, the latter being “especially serious”. Brussels and Downing Street have played down speculation about a breakthrough in Brexit talks.

Reports that a Brexit deal could safeguard the City’s access to European Union markets led to an increase in the value of sterling.

But Number 10 said it was speculation and talks were ongoing, while the EU’s Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier hit out at “misleading” accounts.

A report in The Times suggested a deal had been reached on all aspects of a future partnership on services and the exchange of data. Such a deal would guarantee UK companies access to EU markets as long as domestic regulations remained broadly aligned with those set by Brussels.

Sterling went up nearly 1% versus the

GOOD NEWS: The UK will be an independent state in fishing negotiations in 2020 according to David Mundell