§ 2.46 p.m.
§ The Earl of KIMBERLEYMy 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 why the British Airports Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority have not given permission for British Airways to operate a helicopter service between Milton Keynes and Heathrow.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, I understand that British Airways Helicopters Limited have asked the Civil Aviation Authority not to proceed with the application for the time being, and that the operation of the proposed helicopter service is the subject of discussions between the applicant, the National Air Traffic Services and the British Airports Authority.
§ The Earl of KIMBERLEYMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for what seemed to me to be an unsatisfactory Answer, may I ask whether he can give any reason why helicopter movements should be confused with fixed-wing aircraft 744 movements into Heathrow? Furthermore, is he aware that the policy that British Airways now want to adopt in running this service would be beneficial to British industry, because I believe that British Airways would like to operate this service next year starting with wholly British-built Westland C.30s?
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, I am interested to hear that, but the difficulty which is apprehended relates to the route of the helicopter between Milton Keynes and a suitable site on the airport. The problem so far seems to be that this route conflicts with the approach path to the main runways.
§ Lord PARGITERMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that helicopters are very noisy and we do not want more of them if we can possibly help it?
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, I am aware that that is a widely held view.
Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy Lords, can my noble friend tell us whether the British Airports Authority have given permission to anyone to operate into Heathrow small, fixed-wing aircraft in the small hours of the morning? Can lie say what kind of inquiry into that recent incident is being initiated?
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, I can tell my noble friend that that is a matter that we take very seriously. An inquiry is being held by the BAA and others, but I am not yet in a position to make any announcement.
§ The Earl of KIMBERLEYMy Lords, may I ask one further supplementary question? Is my noble friend aware that there is a farm north of Heathrow called Sipson Farm, which could be a British heliport, and I believe is owned by the British Airports Authority? Is any progress being made with them in allowing it to be used as a heliport?
§ Lord TREFGARNEThe construction of a new heliport, for example, on some site to the north of Heathrow, would of course have to be subject to the usual planning procedures.
§ Lord PARRYMy Lords, in view of the emphasis on semantics and the small 745 "c", will the Minister tell us whether it was purely a coincidence that half of the ownership of the small fixed-wing aircraft is vested in a gentleman called Tory?
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, I think not.