HC Deb 12 May 1970 vol 801 cc1061-2
Q4. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Prime Minister if he will take steps to improve the co-ordination between those Ministers responsible for airport development and industrial development, respectively.

The Prime Minister

My right hon. Friends already work closely together on this matter, Sir.

Mr. Hamilton

Does my right hon. Friend recognise that for far too long Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh, has been under-developed in comparison with other airports in the United Kingdom and that, however good industrial development has been on the east side of Scotland in the last few years, it could and would be better if Turnhouse Airport had the additional runway and the other terminal facilities for which we have been campaigning for so long?

The Prime Minister

Yes, I recognise the problems; I have been there and discussed this on the spot. I recognise the need for an early decision about the future development of the airport. Very large sums of public money are involved, and the alternatives should be subjected to a full cost-benefit analysis to enable the right decision to be reached. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade or one of his colleagues hopes in the near future to make a statement on the runway development at Turnhouse.

Sir A. V. Harvey

Could not the Edinburgh authorities learn something from the Manchester City Council's development of Ringway, which is one of the best subsidiary airports in the country?

The Prime Minister

Yes, I agree with what the hon. Gentleman says about Ringway, but different considerations are involved in Turnhouse. Turnhouse is a staging post for aircraft services to remote areas and islands, and those services are in the nature of a public or social service.

Mr. Thorpe

Does not the Prime Minister agree that the prospect of industrial development in remote areas turns largely on good communications? While many of us are grateful for what the Board of Trade has done by way of grants and loans to increase employment, particularly in the South-West, the present view of the Board of Trade is that airport development is exclusively a matter for the local councils concerned, which have very limited financial resources. [Interruption.] May I shout over the barrage of the Opposition and ask whether the Board of Trade does not think it has greater responsibility and should take a closer interest in industrial development by way of airports?

The Prime Minister

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for what he said in parenthesis, which will no doubt be recalled in coming months, I agree with him and accept—and so does my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade—the need for better air facilities in the remoter parts of the United Kingdom. One of my big difficulties with both Leaders of the Opposition is to explain to them that it is not possible to keep on pressing at the same time for more expenditure and for a reduction of taxation.