HC Deb 18 December 1987 vol 124 cc778-9W
Mr. Andrew Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on(a) the rateable values and (b) the rates payable of airports within the British Airports Authority and Manchester airport in each year since 1983.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The full information requested is not held systematically by the Department of Transport. In particular no data are available on rateable values of the airports concerned. However, the prospectus for the offer for sale of BAA plc stated that rents and rates paid in respect of BAA airports for the years 1983–87 were as shown, and that rates accounted for about 95 per cent. of these sums.

Year ended 31 March
£ million
1983 17
1984 19
1985 20
1986 22
1987 23

Figures in respect of rates paid by Manchester international airport are available only for the years ended 31 March 1984 and 31 March 1985: £2,538,000 and £2,836,000 respectively.

I suggest that the hon. Member contacts the airports concerned direct for the remaining information he has sought.