§ Mr. MillsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has completed his examination of the question of according gateway status to Birmingham airport; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe "gateway international airport" was one of four categories of airport conceived in a 1978 White Paper as part of a framework for airports policy; the 1985 airports policy White Paper discontinued the other three categories. In view of the rapid development of international air traffic, including long-haul traffic, since 611W 1985, and the increasing number of more liberal air services arrangements which the United Kingdom has negotiated, I have decided to discontinue the category of gateway international airport as used in the two White Papers.
The United Kingdom will continue to seek a balanced expansion of air services arrangements under which additional services will be able to operate from regional airports.