§ EARL AMHERSTMy 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 whether they can confirm that the Airports Authority will allocate, from the £100 million to be expended on improvements to Heathrow, enough money to provide travellators for the whole length of the galleries leading to loading fingers used by passengers in all three terminal buildings; and if so when the work will start.
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD DRUMALBYN)My Lords, the British Airports Authority have indicated that they consider it desirable to install moving pavements to serve as many passenger piers as practicable. It is not technically possible to do so in all cases. The £100 million includes this type of expenditure, both at Heathrow and at Gatwick.
§ EARL AMHERSTMy Lords, in thanking the noble Lord for his Answer, which is only fairly encouraging, may I ask whether he would agree that there is considerable urgency, on behalf both of 468 the travelling public and of the airlines at Heathrow and at Gatwick, to bring these airports in this respect up to standards which are common practice at major airports.
§ LORD DRUMALBYNMy Lords, I would agree with that, and it is my information that the British Airports Authority are anxious to do so. If the noble Earl wishes, they would be very pleased to write and give him more details.
§ EARL AMHERSTMy Lords, I am much obliged for that reply. May I ask one further supplementary? Would the noble Lord agree that this represents a reversal of policy: that previously the request by B.E.A. to have travellators put in their new building was turned down by the Ministry?
§ LORD DRUMALBYNMy Lords, that may have been so at that time but, as I say, the £100 million does specifically include provision for these moving pavements.