Sunday AM on Sunday 11 March 2007
The former Conservative Chancellor, Kenneth Clarke responded to his party's consultation document, putting forward proposals for raising taxes on air travel.
The document suggests levying duty on airline fuel, and introducing personal "air miles" allowances, which would target frequent flyers.
Mr Clarke said he had no objection to environmental taxes – but questioned whether people would change their behaviour:
"You have to go to an enormous level before you start reversing the growth in air travel," he said.
And he went on: "I think some of the growth in air travel is very good.
"The fact that young people can now tour the world makes me envious.
"I think it is very important social revolution."
Mercer sacking
Mr Clarke also gave his reaction to David Cameron's decision to sack defence spokesman Patrick Mercer from the Tory front bench, following Mr Mercer's remarks about ethnic minority members of the armed forces.
Mr Clarke agreed his sacking was inevitable, but hoped he could rebuild his career.
"I trust that Patrick will be on the backbenches for a bit, then he'll come back when the whole dust has blown over," Mr Clarke told Andrew.
"There was nothing that Patrick said actually which is remotely offensive or racialist." But he added that Mr Mercer had shown "a certain lack of care".
Cash for honours
Andrew also interviewed the Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer about a range of subjects, including the "cash for honours" inquiry which again featured widely in the Sunday newspapers.
The Attorney General's dual role, as the government's senior legal adviser, and a member of the Cabinet, has been questioned – and Lord Falconer said he welcomed a public debate on the subject.
"We are good at changing our constitution to fit modern times," he said. "It is right that we debate that issue. I welcome the select committee's inquiry into it.
We have reached no conclusion whatsoever in relation to it but I think it is right that it should be debated because times changes."
Andrew's other guests included the actor Robert Lindsay, who discussed his latest stage role – as Archie Rice in the 50th anniversary production of John Osborne's play, "The Entertainer".
He was also joined by the American actor, Richard Schiff – star of the cult US political drama, "The West Wing".
The newspapers were reviewed by the political editor of The Herald newspaper, Catherine Macleod, and the former BBC foreign correspondent, Kate Adie.
Tune into Sunday AM on Sunday 18 March 2007 at the usual time; 09.00am on BBC One.
