HC Deb 18 March 1985 vol 75 cc621-2
9. Mr. Foulkes

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has now considered the report of the Scottish Affairs Committee on lowlands airport policy; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Michael Spicer

I have read the Committee's report with interest. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State expects to make a statement about Scottish lowland airports policy shortly.

Mr. Foulkes

But the Minister said that months ago in exactly the same words. Will he confirm that, since the bulk of the evidence to and the report of the Select Committee and the report of his own working party favour retaining Prestwick as Scotland's transatlantic gateway, the only reason for delay is an internal battle between the political dogma of his Secretary of State and the interests of Scotland as represented by the Select Committee, Scottish Members of Parliament and the Secretary of State for Scotland? When shall we know whether sense triumphs over political dogma?

Mr. Spicer

I understand the anxieties expressed by the hon. Gentleman and many of his colleagues. The hon. Gentleman has made it out to be a simple matter, but it is very complicated and perhaps more complicated than we anticipated originally. All I can say is that we hope to make our decisions known in the next few weeks.