§ Mr. Hayesasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many hectares of land have been purchased by the Civil Aviation Authority during the past five years within a mile radius of Stansted airport.
§ Mr. David MitchellNone by the Civil Aviation Authority. However, the British Airports Authority has purchased a certain amount of land in connection with its proposals to develop Stanstead airport. I suggest that my hon. Friend contacts the chairman of that authority for details of the amount of land.
§ Mr. Allen Adamsasked the Secretary of State for Transport what financial target he has currently set for the Civil Aviation Authority.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe Secretary of State has no statutory power to set a financial target for the Civil Aviation Authority. However, the authority has adopted the aim of achieving during the two years 1983–84 and 1984–85, an average annual return, before taking account of interest, of 7 per cent. on net assets revalued at current 431W cost. The target applies to all the authority's activities with the exception of United Kingdom airspace traffic services, upon which, by international agreement, charges are set to break even, and the operation of the Highlands and Islands aerodromes, which is subsidised by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.