§ Lord KILMANYMy 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 it is intended to build a covered car park for the use of passengers embarking at Turnhouse aerodrome Edinburgh either free of charge or on payment of a charge.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, this is a matter for the British Airports Authority. I will draw the noble Lord's Question to their attention.
§ Lord KILMANYMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for his rather cautious reply. Is it not the fact that Her Majesty's Government still have influence in these affairs? Would he himself not agree that 2 such a car park would be very much welcomed by passengers on the aerodrome, especially in wet weather, and, indeed, more so when there is snow forecast, and that many of these passengers would be perfectly prepared to pay a substantial sum for that convenience?
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, the Government's influence in this matter, as my noble friend described it, is very strictly limited, because Parliament has put responsibility for these matters upon the British Airports Authority. They will wish to proceed with the proposal which my noble friend described only when they can see it earning a proper return, and I must tell my noble friend that I think that is unlikely. But I certainly agree that it would be desirable from the point of view that my noble friend described.