Airports (Hansard, 20 February 1990)

§ Mr. Sheerman
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what expenditure his Department will incur in assisting the development of British airports in 1990–91.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
My Department does not pay grant for airport development, but it authorises borrowing for the expansion and development of facilities at local authority airports. For 1990–91 borrowing approvals totalling £59 million will be available.

§ Mr. Sheerman
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to approve access from the centre of London to Heathrow and Gatwick airports by road, rail and tube;
(2) what plans his Department has to improve the transport infrastructure serving the airports of London and the south-east in the next five years.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
A number of proposed schemes will improve access to airports in London and the south-east. I will write to the hon. Member.

§ Mr. Sheerman
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to assist the expansion of London as an international hub for airline traffic.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
In Heathrow and Gatwick the United Kingdom has the world's two busiest international airports, and BAA plc is currently investing some £400 million in the development of Stansted airport. We have commissioned advice from the Civil Aviation Authority on United Kingdom airport capacity needed through to 2005.