HC Deb 06 March 1990 vol 168 cc727-8 3.30 pm
Mr. George Foulkes (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley)

I beg to seek leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 20 to discuss a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the announcement today by the Secretary of State for Transport of a review of Scottish lowlands airports policy. The House should debate the matter, because it has serious implications not just for air transport in Scotland but for employment in Ayrshire—[Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

Order. Will hon. Members who are not remaining for the application please leave quietly?

Mr. Foulkes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Hon. Members whose constituencies are under the flight paths at Glasgow and Edinburgh, like my hon. Friend the Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington), will wish to express their concern about the environmental impact and the increased dangers that extra flights will pose at both those airports. It has also emerged today that, in Glasgow, check-in facilities for transatlantic flights will have to—[Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

Order. I ask the House please to listen and to stop the private conversations on both sides.

Mr. Foulkes

It has also emerged today that, at Glasgow airport, check-in facilities for transatlantic traffic will have to be in portakabins in the car park, with consequent problems for security and safety. Those of us who have Lockerbie still sharp in our memories will realise some of the possible implications.

In his statement, the Secretary of State himself also says that he recognises that the change in policy will have "an adverse impact" on employment in Ayrshire. As you know, Mr. Speaker, unemployment there is already well above the national average. For that reason alone, it is an urgent and important matter, but it is also not clear whether it is intended that the British Airports Authority should retain its monopoly of Scottish airports or, indeed, whether the Secretary of State intends that there should be real competition by insisting that the BAA divests itself of the ownership of Prestwick and allows Prestwick to compete fully with Glasgow airport.

For all these reasons—the environmental impact, safety and security, and employment in Ayrshire—and other matters that need to be clarified, I submit that the only way the matter can be properly dealt with is by an urgent debate in the House. Even with the consolation clauses which the Secretary of State has included, today's announcement is unwelcome in Ayrshire and in Scotland. I hope, Mr. Speaker, that you will give Scottish Members an opportunity of expressing concern by agreeing to a debate on this urgent and important matter.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing an important and specific matter that he believes should have urgent consideration, namely, the announcement today by the Secretary of State for Transport of a review of Scottish lowlands airports policy". I have listened with concern to what the hon. Member has said about the matter, but, as he knows, the difficult decision that I have to take is whether to give it precedence over the business set down for today or for tomorrow. I regret that, in this case, the matter that the hon. Gentleman has raised does not meet the requirements of the Standing Order, and I therefore cannot submit his application to the House.