HC Deb 06 February 1978 vol 943 cc1007-9
15. Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he next proposes to meet the Chairman of the British Airports Authority.

Mr. Clinton Davis

My right hon. Friend and I met the Chairman of the British Airports Authority on 31st January. I have no plans for a further meeting in the immediate future.

Mr. Newens

Before my right hon. Friend and my hon. Friend again meet the Chairman of the BAA, will they study with care the history of the Stansted affair in the 1960s, and in particular the Roskill Report, which utterly and completely demolished the arguments of the air traffic lobby for the development of Stansted as London's third airport on environmental, planning and noise grounds? Will my hon. Friend discuss with the Chairman of the BAA the possibility of giving an undertaking that a capacity of 4 million passengers will be the final upper limit on development at Stansted and therefore a safeguard for the future?

Mr. Davis

My hon. Friend is asking, by a more roundabout route, the question that he asked my right hon. Friend in another respect, and I give him the same answer without actually rehearsing it.

On the question of studying the Roskill Report, the history of Stansted, and so on, these are matters to which my right hon. Friend and I addressed ourselves, but what is proposed for Stansted within the scope of the White Paper, in the more immediate future up to 1990, is specifically stated, and that is limiting the growth of Stansted in that period to 4 million passengers.

Mr. Adley

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there will be a welcome for the general proposition in the White Paper that the large cities which create the traffic are the places where the airports should be located? Will he confirm that unless and until the present Government or any other possess powers to direct foreign airlines to use specific airports there is no point in thinking about a third London airport unless and until the Government propose to close Heathdow, which presumably they have no intention of doing?

Mr. Davis

I do not think it would be right to assert that all large cities must of necessity have an airport.

Mr. Adley

I did not say that.

Mr. Davis

What we are proposing in the concentration of resources assists not only the national airports strategy but the development of regional air traffic.

On the question of direction, we prefer to try to influence rather than direct airlines, if that is possible. If it proves not to be possible, we shall, of course, have to reserve our right to direct.

Mr. Dalyell

If I may ask the question that I asked last week, does my hon. Friend recollect that the Secretary of State said that the decision to devolve responsibility for Scottish airports to the proposed Assembly was taken not on technical grounds but on political grounds? Do the Government think that such a decision should bow to political considerations rather than to technical considerations which are completely against it?

Mr. Davis

I think that the basis upon which the Government determined their policy in Scotland was dependent to some extent upon the views that were expressed in this House, and to some extent on the view that the Scottish devolution Bill was likely to become law, and that it was appropriate in those circumstances—

Mr. Dalyell

Give the Assembly a job.

Mr. Davis

—for the—

Mr. Dalyell

Just give it something to do.

Mr. Davis

My hon. Friend cannot stop his belligerence on this issue from spilling over into trade questions. This is a matter for the Scottish Assembly, and I believe that is right.

Mrs. Bain

Can the Minister indicate whether any discussions have taken place about the experiments of take-off and landing techniques which took place at Heathrow last year? Will they be extended to Gatwick? Also, is there a possibility of an interim report, in view of the implications for all areas that are subjected to high noise levels?

Mr. Davis

The experiment has taken rather longer than we originally thought. I assure the hon. Member that a statement will be made as soon as possible.

Mr. Shersby

When the Minister next speaks to the Chairman of the British Airports Authority, will he discuss the way in which 25 million to 40 million passengers using Heathrow get to and from the airport? Will he bear in mind the present heavy use of the traffic infrastructure?

Mr. Davis

If the hon. Gentleman is referring to interlining between Heathrow and Gatwick—

Mr. Shersby

No, I am not.

Mr. Davis

—this is a matter which is attracting the attention of the British Airports Authority at present. I hope that the new Underground link will assist materially access to Heathrow, but we shall have to keep the matter under close review.