§ 30. Mr. Grimondasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the annual cost of the civil airports in this country; and how much of this is borne by the taxpayers, passengers, and freight consignors, respectively.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe gross annual cost of civil airports in this country, including technical services, was £3,873,000 in 1953–54. Of this the taxpayer paid £1,667,000. No direct charge is levied on passengers by the Government, but the airlines paid £239,000 in respect of passenger service charge. Separate figures for freight consignors are not available. These figures do not make any provision for capital or depreciation charges.
§ Mr. GrimondIs the Minister aware that it seems perfectly fair that the airlines should pay more than they do towards the cost of these airports, but can he ensure that the method of payment is, if possible, by an addition to their own charges and not by the rather tiresome extra charge made on passengers at the airport?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe charge is levied by my Department on the airlines, but the steps that they take to pass on the charge, if they pass it on at all, is a matter for them. I think that the hon. Gentleman knows that a great many of them have adopted the policy of incorporating the charge or at any rate securing that it is paid at the same time as the fare.
§ Mr. RankinCan the Minister say how much income is derived from landing 1122 fees, rent of shops, and so on, at these airports?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterFor rents as a whole, which go far wider than shops and include office premises, the figure for the last year that I have was £723,000. I cannot, without notice, give the other figure for which the hon. Gentleman asked.
§ 40. Mr. Rankinasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to state, to the nearest convenient date, the actual amount of money on Civil Vote, expended on the development of London, Gatwick, Ridgway, Renfrew, and Prestwick airports; and the sums allocated on Civil Account for further development in each case but not yet spent.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI will, with permission, circulate these figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following are the figures:
| — | (A) Expenditure to 31st March, 1955 | (B) Sums allocated for further development | |
| £ | £ | ||
| London | … | 21,900,000 | 5,300,000 |
| Gatwick | … | 30,000 | 6,000,000 |
| Manchester | … | 440,000 | 75,000* |
| Renfrew | … | 580,000 | 100,000 |
| Prestwick | … | 1,500,000 | 1,400,000 |
| * Represents the amount included in current estimates on account of a development programme, details of which have not yet been settled. |