§ 11. Mr. Andrew Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the rôle which he proposes that Ringway Airport should play in the long-term future of civic air traffic in North-West England.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisI expect to receive the recommendations of the Civil Aviation Authority on the Central England Airport Study, which included airports in the North-West, later in the year. In considering the authority's advice I shall take account of the future rôle of Manchester Airport.
§ Mr. BennettDoes my hon. Friend agree that such a statement only increases public anxiety in the area around Ring-way and in the rest of the North-West that other people may have to suffer from noise pollution? Does he also agree that much more should be done around Ring-way to combat noise pollution?
§ Mr. DavisThe question of noise pollution at Manchester is primarily a matter for the airport management, which is a local authority responsibility. Various measures, including the restriction on night jet movements during the summer, and day and night noise limits, are in force there. We have had no cause to believe that the Manchester local authority is not carrying out its commitments. The wider matter will have to await the result of consultations which the Civil Aviation Authority is putting in train.
§ Mr. RedmondWill the hon. Gentleman put a gag on people who are always trying to muck about with the North-West? Is it not nonsense to suggest that the North-West's main airport might be moved from Ringway after fantastic sums of money have been spent on it? We admit that it should not have been built where it is, but now that it is there it is irreplaceable.
§ Mr. DavisI am not sure that the hon. Gentleman is the best person to talk about gags being put on people. He is asking me to prejudge the result of consultations, and I cannot do that.