§ 3. Sir Knox Cunninghamasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated cost since devaluation of extending each of the two runways, respectively, of Aldergrove Airport in County Antrim; and if he will start preliminary work to extend the runways in order to make them suitable for transatlantic jet traffic.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuThe cost of bringing the main runway to a standard comparable with that, say, at Prestwick would be about £2 million. An extension to this runway is under consideration. We cannot foresee any need at present to extend the secondary runway and no estimate is therefore available.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamIs the hon. Gentleman aware that B.O.A.C. has started now to fly from Aldergrove and, in the interests of safety, would it not be wise to start plans for an extension of at least one runway?
§ Mr. MallalieuI do not think that safety comes into it as a result of the new flights by B.O.A.C. But we shall 1826 gain experience of what the traffic is likely to be and, in the light of that, we may reconsider our decision.
§ 4. Sir Knox Cunninghamasked the President of the Board of Trade when and on what terms will Aldergrove Civil Airport in County Antrim be transferred to the Government of Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuThe airport cannot be transferred until the Government of Northern Ireland has obtained the necessary legal powers. The Civil Aviation Bill now in Committee will enable the Northern Ireland Parliament to confer such powers and I understand that a Bill for this purpose is in preparation at Stormont. The date and terms of transfer will be discussed between the two Governments as soon as sufficient progress has been made with the draft legislation.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamAs this legislation now appears imminent, can the hon. Gentleman not give a little more information about the terms, financial and otherwise, on which the transfer will be made?
§ Mr. MallalieuNot so far. It will depend in part upon the type of organisation that the Northern Ireland Government want to run this airport when it takes over.
§ Mr. RankinIs it not the case that, so far, we have not reached that part of the Bill, and is my hon. Friend assuming, perhaps correctly, that the Committee will agree to the proposals?
§ Mr. MallalieuI am sure that I should be out of order in discussing the proceedings of the Committee in question.