§ 3. Mr. SweeneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much financial support the Welsh Office is providing for the design stage of the proposed link road with Cardiff international airport. [14442]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Gwilym Jones)A total of £1,125,000 this year and next.
§ Mr. SweeneyMay I take this opportunity to thank my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Transport, and my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, for their recent visits to Cardiff international airport? Those visits gave them a chance to see at first hand the enormous strides that have been made there, and the enormous investment that has taken place since privatisation and since TBI took over. Will my hon. Friend look hard at the whole question of funds for the airport and bear in mind the vital necessity of financing the construction stage of the road? Up to £40 million worth of development at the airport depends on that funding, which would also provide a considerable boost for Barry.
§ Mr. JonesI very much agree with the thrust of my hon. Friend's question. I, too, have visited Cardiff international airport more than once, and I share my hon. Friend's view of the vibrancy, excitement and positive, outward-going nature of TBI's management of it. I look forward to the continuing expansion of air services there.
On the second part of my hon. Friend's question, I am content that the £800,000 with which Vale of Glamorgan borough council has most recently been provided will enable it to carry out the necessary work on phase 1 of the new road, of which I know that my hon. Friend is such a supporter, and to investigate further the feasibility of phase 2.