HL Deb 02 February 1971 vol 314 cc1113-5

2.43 p.m.

LORD KILMANY

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 what plans they have in mind for making greater use of Prestwick aerodrome in view of its remark able record of freedom from fog which, as experience has shown, so often curtails the use of other aerodromes.]

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, Prestwick Airport has been owned and managed by the British Airports Authority since 1966 and plans for its development are therefore primarily their responsibility. I understand that the Authority have made every effort to attract both passenger traffic and training flights to the airport. Neither the Government nor the Authority have the power to direct airlines to use Prestwick in preference to other airports and, in the last analysis, the use made of Prestwick Airport is a matter of airline choice.

LORD KILMANY

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that reply, may I ask whether he would agree that one of the important conclusions to be drawn from the Roskill Report is that the need for first-class international airports is not confined to the South of England? If that be conceded, will my noble friend hear in mind that in the North there is nowhere more reliable than Prestwick.

LORD DENHAM

Yes, my Lords: that will certainly be borne in mind.

LORD FERRIER

My Lords, can the noble Lord confirm that negotiations are in progress with British Railways for the establishment of direct railway communication with Prestwick Airport, and for the provision of a station there; and can he say what stage those negotiations have reached?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, I understand that progress is being made in discussions between the British Airports Authority, the local authorities and British Rail to improve the road and rail access to Glasgow from Prestwick.

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I thought the original Question was: What progress has been made? Can the noble Lord help us?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, does the noble Lord mean the original supplementary question?

LORD SHEPHERD

Yes.

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, I cannot go further than I did in the answer that I gave.

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, is it a little progress or much progress?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, a measure of progress.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, can the noble Lord tell us whether we may expect a statement of national airports policy in general United Kingdom terms before decisions are taken on the Roskill Report?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, I think that is rather a wider question than the one on the Order Paper.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, on this relevant question of Roskill, may I ask whether the Roskill Report does not also point out the fact that the fog conditions at Foulness are much more favourable than those at Cublington? Will the noble Lord cause the Government to bear that factor in mind?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, the noble Lord can certainly ask the question, but I do not think it would be proper for me to answer it.