HC Deb 24 April 1978 vol 948 cc980-1
5. Mr. MacFarquhar

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he takes to ensure collaboration between the British Airports Authority and the British Tourist Authority.

Mr. Clinton Davis

The White Paper on airports policy emphasised the relationship between tourism and the demand for air transport and the British Airports Authority and the British Tourist Authority already recognise the need for collaboration. The form this takes is a matter for the two authorities.

Mr. MacFarquhar

Is the Minister aware that when two or more jumbo jets arrive at Heathrow from New York at weekends, the large number of American tourists which they disgorge queue endlessly because there is only a skeleton immigration staff? To avoid giving a bad impression to valued dollar-spending tourists, will my hon. Friend suggest to the bodies mentioned in the Question that they should get together to ensure that the immigration staff is up to full quota; or, better still, could an immigration official journey on the plane and process the tourists in flight?

Mr. Davis

That is an interesting proposition. The chairman of the British Airports Authority and I propose to meet the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department to discuss problems affecting immigration staff and the adequacy or inadequacy of such staff at Heathrow.

Mr. McCrindle

Is not the greatest contribution that could be made by the British Airports Authority to the comfort and convenience of tourists the earliest possible restoration of civilised conditions at Terminals 1, 2 and 3 at Heathrow?

Mr. Davis

The hon. Gentleman, who takes a keen interest in these matters, is aware of the difficulties that have arisen as a result of the refurbishing that is taking place at Heathrow. The more quickly that this can be accomplished, the better and the more advanced will be the opportunity for, as the hon. Gentleman puts it, civilised treatment of users of Heathrow. Despite the problems that have arisen, I should not have thought that they had been treated in an uncivilised way.

Mr. Rhodes James

Is the Minister aware that, although we in East Anglia are always delighted to have more tourists, we do not wish them to come in through an expanded Stansted Airport?

Mr. Davis

We have had a number of interesting reflections about Stansted in this House from time to time, and the hon. Gentleman has just asserted his rather negative approach. We have put forward a very modest proposal for the expansion of Stansted up to 1990 which, I think, commands a great deal of support.