§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will publish comparable information relating to landing charges at Heathrow, Gatwick, 108W Stansted and Manchester airports, respectively; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the level of such charges.
§ Mr. David MitchellI am placing in the Library of the House a copy of the 1983 handbook of the Aerodrome Owners Association which contains details of charges imposed at these and other major airports in the United Kingdom. Airport charges vary in accordance with the weight of an aircraft, the number of passengers carried, the time of the year or day the aircraft flies, and the services and facilities offered at individual airports. Comparisons are therefore difficult since charges will vary quite significantly according to the circumstances of a particular flight. It remains the Government's policy that the setting of airport charges is primarily a matter for the airport owners concerned.