§ Lord TREFGARNEasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will state the statutory powers under which they could direct an airline to move its operations from Heathrow to Gatwick if the need arose.
§ Lord JACQUESThe Secretary of State can attach a condition to permits issued to foreign airlines under Article 77 of the Air Navigation Order 1976 requiring them to use Gatwick Airport, and he has powers under Article 58 to revoke, suspend and vary existing permits. The Air Navigation Order 1976 can be amended, or a new order made, under Section 8 of the Civil Aviation Act 1949. British airlines can be required to use Gatwick under the powers set out in Sections 21–23 of the Civil Aviation Act 1971.