§ 14. Mr. Stodartasked the President of the Board of Trade, what communication he has had from the Edinburgh Airport Consultative Committee about the lack of surveillance radar equipment at Turnhouse; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuThe Consultative Committee has been informed, in response to its recent resolution on the subject, that the provision of surveillance radar at Turnhouse is under consideration. The Committee has also been given the assurance for which it asked that the absence of such a radar does not prejudice the safety of current operations at the airport.
§ Mr. StodartCan the hon. Gentleman say whether the consideration that he has given is any further forward than it was six months ago when he answered this Question? Is it true that the absence of radar costs an aircraft on average £5 a minute of waiting time to come down? Does the hon. Gentleman know of any other capial city in the world whose airport is not equipped with radar?
§ Mr. MallalieuThe consideration of this subject is very much more advanced and I hope to announce a decision on this matter in two months.
§ Mr. William HamiltonIs my hon. Friend aware that the improvement of facilities generally at Turnhouse and particularly the provision of a second runway will enormously facilitate—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. There is a Question on the Order Paper about this.