HC Deb 13 January 1997 vol 288 c17
12. Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress by the European Community on its review of slots at Heathrow airport. [8774]

Sir George Young

We are awaiting proposals from the European Commission on revisions to the current regulations governing slot allocation at all Community airports.

Mr. Steen

My right hon. Friend will be aware that a fearful row is going on in Europe between two socialist Commissioners, Commissioner Kinnock and Commissioner van Miert. As a result, the report about the future of grandfather rights and slot trading in major European airports has been delayed by more than a year. Is that an example of the British Government being unable to do anything because Brussels bureaucracy is sovereign over matters that it decides to investigate?

Sir George Young

We can carry on with the present position, under which a certain amount of slot trading is acceptable. As I said in my original answer, we are awaiting proposals from the European Commission. It has expressed the view that trading is contrary to current regulation, but it remains a grey area. In the meantime, I am not aware of any substantial disadvantage to the United Kingdom civil aviation industry.

Mr. Cunliffe

Does the Minister appreciate that the best way to relieve pressure on slots at Heathrow would be to grant a second runway to Manchester airport immediately? Hundreds of thousands of people from areas north of Manchester must travel to Heathrow to fly to Strasbourg, Bonn and other destinations in Europe—including the British parliamentary delegations to the European Union, and those to the Council of Europe and the Western European Union, of which I am a member. Therefore, I have a vested interest in the matter. I ask the Secretary of State to take an immediate decision that would bring automatic relief to Heathrow.

Sir George Young

I commend the hon. Gentleman's ingenuity in introducing a question about Manchester airport as a supplementary to a question about slot allocation. He will be pleased to hear that a decision about the second runway at Manchester is imminent.