§ 19. Mr. Tilneyasked the President of the Board of Trade what requests he has received for financial assistance for the airport of Liverpool.
§ Mr. William RodgersNone, Sir, although the question was broadly explored at a meeting held with representatives of the city earlier this year. Assistance is already given by way of the aerodrome navigation services provided by the National Air Traffic Control Service at an estimated net loss in the current year of about £200,000.
§ Mr. TilneyIs the President of the Board of Trade aware that the upkeep of the Liverpool Airport is a very heavy burden on Liverpool's rates? Will he bring to the attention of the licensing authorities that Merseyside can never be in the same passenger catchment area as Manchester?
§ Mr. RodgersYes, we are fully aware of Liverpool's problems. I understand that a Report by McKinsey's will be considered by the city council very shortly. The hon. Gentleman raises a much wider question when he asks us to give directions to the A.T.L.B.
§ Mr. FortescueIs the Minister aware that Liverpool Airport, in contrast with most municipal airports, has never had any financial help from the Government, except, as the Minister has said, for navigational aids? Would he not consider it to be undesirable if this fine airport, which in a decade must become part of the national network, were to be closed because the ratepayers could no longer bear the burden?
§ Mr. RodgersIt would be a pity if the airport were to be closed. But we must recognise that some of the investment in airports has been entered into with perhaps too little consideration of the likely growth of traffic and also of the competitive achievements of the railways.