HC Deb 13 November 1980 vol 992 cc318-20W
Mr. Colvin

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will quantify the staff savings forecast for 1981–82 in paragraph 8 of working paper No. 1 supplied by his Department to the working group on the aviation security fund for its meeting on 4 November.

Mr. Eyre

The reference to staff savings in paragraph 8 of working paper No. 1 relates primarily to the proposed introduction of centralised searching in terminal 3 at Heathrow. The Department has informed the British Airports Authority that it accepts the proposals for centralisation, the implementation of which is now a matter for the authority. The Department is also examining proposals put to it by the authority for centralising the search arrangements at Gatwick. The estimates circulated to the working group on the aviation security fund assumed that net staff savings at the two airports in 1981–2 would be largely offset in that year by the costs of the building work associated with introducing centralised searching.

Mr. Colvin

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what revision will be made, following the Prime Minister's announcement on 7 November on public sector pay, to the estimate supplied by his Department to the aviation security fund working group of a 20 per cent. increase in 1981–82 searching, security and police wage costs; whether all relevant public employers are bound by the announcement; and what the consequent reduction in the forecast levy rate for 1981–82 will be.

Mr. Eyre

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Trade will take into account all factors likely to affect both the income and the expenditure of the aviation security fund, when coming to a decision on the levy rate for 1981–82, which he hopes to announce shortly. On the second part of the hon. Member's question, I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's announcement.

Mr. Ioan Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, in view of the independent investigation currently being undertaken for the Minister of Agricul­

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