§ 14. Mr. Doigasked the Minister of Aviation what financial assistance he will give to Dundee Corporation to provide a suitable airport for Dundee.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsWe have already offered Dundee Corporation about £4,000 towards the cost of technical equipment at Riverside. The next stage, which is not easy, is to find an airline operator who is ready to provide Dundee with a regular service. I would then consider further assistance to the Corporation.
§ Mr. DoigIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Dundee Corporation has already spent a great deal of its own money in trying to secure a regular air service, that the need for this has been admitted in the Government's Central Scotland development plan? Is he aware that it has been described as being absolutely necessary by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Bexley (Mr. Heath), and that the only person in the last Government who would not agree to it was his predecessor? Will my right hon. Friend therefore do a little more to try to rectify this sore thumb of the lack of Scottish aviation, as it is described by the Scottish Aviation Advisory Committee, in order to try to help this development district to get the air service necessary for its full development?
§ Mr. JenkinsI will certainly do all I can, and shall be very happy to see Dundee provided with regular air services, but my hon. Friend, and the House, will be aware that I have no power to direct an operator to provide such a service.