§ Lord BOYD-CARPENTERasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, before they decided on the further restrictions on the night movements of aircraft at Heathrow and Gatwick, which they recently announced, they made assessments of the loss to the United Kingdom airline industry and to the United Kingdom balance of payments resulting from both the direct and the repercussive effects at foreign airports of the imposition of these additional restrictions; and whether they will state the result of these assessments expressed in sterling, with separate figures relating to the interference with British exports resulting from interference with the carriage of air freight out of Gatwick.
Lord ORAMNo decision has yet been taken on the course of further restrictions on the night movements of aircraft at Heathrow and Gatwick. The document recently published is a Consultation886WA Document on which the Government are seeking views before making their decision. The economic impact on the aviation industry is discussed in the document. On the balance of payments, it is stated in the document that there is no evidence of the restrictions having hindered exports. The Government would welcome comment on both these points.