§ Mrs. McCurleyasked the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to announce his decision with regard to the British Airports Authority's appeal against the Civil Aviation Authority's granting of a licence to British Midland Airways to fly the New York-Glasgow route.
§ Mr. RidleyI have today upheld the appeal by the British Airports Authority on the grounds that British Midland Airways' licence was inconsistent with the designation of Prestwick as the airport from which Scottish long-haul services must operate. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have decided to review that policy, which was not possible in the context of the appeal, to determine whether it still offers the best means of meeting lowland Scotland's civil aviation requirements. We shall be consulting interested parties in the course of this review.