§ 26. Mr. W. Rossasked the Minister of Aviation if he has any further statement to make about the future of Renfrew Airport.
§ Mr. SandysThe surrounding buildings and docks will make it difficult to provide at Renfrew satisfactory facilities to meet the anticipated future requirements of air traffic. I am therefore considering whether a suitable airport for Glasgow could be provided elsewhere, possibly at the Naval Airfield at Abbotsinch, in the event of the Admiralty deciding to give it up. In any case, Renfrew Airport will continue in operation for the next three years.
§ Mr. RossI do not think that there is anything very new in what the Minister has said. Can he tell us with whom he is having discussions in regard to the consideration which he is giving to the question of using Abbotsinch? Will he consider the whole of Glasgow and the relationship which Prestwick might bear to the solution of this problem as well as Abbotsinch?
§ Mr. SandysYes. There are quite a lot of consultations which will have to take place, particularly with the local authorities and other Scottish interests concerned. Of course, the possibility of using Prestwick will be considered, but nothing that we can do will alter the fact that Prestwick is rather a long way from Glasgow.