HL Deb 29 July 1959 vol 218 cc744-7
LORD POLWARTH

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to start the construction of the following works so as to bring Prestwick Airport to the standards required of the United Kingdom's second international airport, and when they estimate that each of them will be completed—

  1. 1. Extension of the main runway.
  2. 2. The new control tower and fire station.
  3. 3. The new terminal building and apron.
  4. 4. An airport hotel.]

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, the contract for the runway extension will be placed as soon as the Ministry can secure the co-operation of the Ayrshire County Council, and the work should be completed in nine months. Invitations to tender for the control tower and fire station will be ready for issue in August. On this basis work would start in October; the fire station should be completed by June, 1960, and the control tower by March, 1961. It is hoped that work on the terminal building and apron will start next year and be completed in the latter part of 1962. As regards an hotel, the architect is provisionally including hotel accommodation in his plans for the terminal area, so that before making a decision the Minister can see the cost and relate it to the return to be expected.

EARL HOWE

My Lords, do the plans which the noble Earl has given involve any alteration to the main road?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

Yes.

LORD FERRIER

My Lords, may it be assumed from the reply that a tunnel is not to be constructed simultaneously with the extension of the runway; and as the runway is to be raised by 7 feet at its western end, can the Government state whether consideration has been given to using the spoil from a tunnel to help with that embankment, and, if so, how would the overall cost of the two jobs be affected?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, the answer to the first part of that question is, Yes: the noble Lord's assumption is correct. The answer to the second part of the question is, Yes. So far as the third part of the question is concerned, the cost is of the order of £40,000 as compared with £1 million.

EARL HOWE

My Lords, does the alteration of the main road mean taking the main road through a tunnel or diverting it?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, I have not been asked that question on the Order Paper. I should be grateful if the noble Earl would put it down.

THE EARL OF MANSFIELD

My Lords, can the noble Earl say whether the new terminal building will be more worthy of Scotland's principal airport than the present shabby structure?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

I assume so.

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

My Lords, the noble Earl said, "As soon as the co-operation of the Ayrshire County Council can be obtained". He is not suggesting, is he, that the Ayrshire County Council are holding back in any way and not giving every co-operation they can?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

We are awaiting their reply.

LORD GREENHILL

My Lords, is the noble Earl aware that in to-day's Glasgow Herald there is, in inverted commas, a quotation from a letter to the effect that the Ayrshire County Council are reluctant to take part in consultation on the basis of the Minister's plans, which exclude the possibility of further investigation of the practicability of constructing a tunnel as recommended by the Commissioners? In the light of this statement by the Ayrshire County Council, and remembering that the essence of the whole matter is speed—because they want to get on with this scheme by next May—would it not be possible for consultations to take place immediately between the Minister and the Ayrshire County Council with a view to arriving at some arrangement whereby this important project is not delayed.

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, the whole essence of this problem, as the noble Lord said, is that there should be no delay. It is for that reason that my right honourable friend has for the moment said that there shall be no tunnel; because construction of a tunnel would delay the runway.

LORD GREENHILL

But it is a temporary decision?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

I am not aware whether it is temporary or not. That is my right honourable friend's decision at the moment.

LORD POLWARTH

My Lords, I should like to thank the noble Earl for his reply; and without indulging in recriminations for past delays I would ask him for an assurance that the Government will treat the whole of this problem, and particularly the runway extension, with a great deal of urgency—more so than in the past.

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, I am glad the noble Earl has asked me that question. My right honourable friend's one idea is to get this runway built so that it will be ready in time for jet aircraft to land on it and without any delay.