§ 1. Mr. Powellasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further measures for the convenience of business and other passengers are proposed to be taken at Aldergrove Airport.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Ray Carter)Later this year work is due to start on a £10 million airport development scheme to provide Belfast Airport with greatly improved airside and passenger facilities.
§ Mr. PowellWelcoming the improvements to which the hon. Gentleman has referred, may I ask him whether he will see that the whole weight of the Northern Ireland Office is put behind the request for a thorough re-examination of the necessity and methods of the security checks which are employed at Aldergrove and on all the routes between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom, as these are gravely prejudicial to business and other economic contacts between the parts of the Kingdom and are in themselves illogical and in part unnecessary?
§ Mr. CarterI am aware of the right hon. Gentleman's continuing interest in this subject and, of course, that of his hon. Friends. The Northern Ireland Office, like him and his hon. Friends, takes an acute interest in the subject. It is a subject that is under continuing review. I assure the right hon. Gentleman that we shall continue to look at the matter in considerable earnestness.