HC Deb 14 July 1986 vol 101 cc669-70
7. Sir John Osborn

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will consider the feasibility of establishing a STOLport at Sheffield.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Michael Spicer)

It is for potential developers to undertake feasibility studies for the establishment of new airports such as a STOLport at Sheffield.

Mr. Osborn

Is my hon. Friend aware that south Yorkshire and Sheffield is the biggest industrial area with the densest population in Europe without airport facilities? In the past the Government have worked with local authorities to provide the climate to develop airports. As Brymon and British Caledonian would like to go ahead, will he act as a catalyst with the Secretary of State for the Environment so that European funds can be made available to put Sheffield and south Yorkshire on the air map?

Mr. Spicer

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his persistance with this idea. As he may know, there are four airports within 40 miles of Sheffield-Manchester, Leeds-Bradford, East Midlands and Humberside. If a local authority asked us to agree to the necessary capital allocation for a STOLport at Sheffield, we would need to be sure that the investment met our normal criterion of a financial return of 7 per cent. If an application were made for European funds, that would be considered on its merits.