HC Deb 17 March 2000 vol 346 cc339-40W
Mr. Goggins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what legal advice he has received in the last year on proposals to change the powers of local authorities in respect of airports they own. [114573]

Mr. Mullin

Local authorities are currently required to exercise their control over public airport companies in such a way that the companies do not engage in activities in which the local authorities themselves have no power to engage. Manchester Airport asked my right hon. Friend to remove this limitation by means of a provision in the Local Government Bill under which he could make regulations extending the powers of airport companies and their subsidiaries in relation to specified types of activity. We consider that the clause which Manchester Airport wished my right hon. Friend to add to the Bill for this purpose would have been outside its scope.

Mr. Goggins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of extending the powers of local authorities in respect of airports they own. [114574]

Mr. Mullin

We largely agree with Manchester Airport's own assessment of the potential benefits of wider powers for local authority airport companies.

Mr. Goggins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the potential use that local authorities might make in respect of airports they own of the new obligation on local authorities to promote economic and social well-being. [114575]

Mr. Mullin

Part I of the Local Government Bill gives local authorities broad new powers to do anything that contributes to the economic and social well-being of their areas. Subject to the terms of their Memoranda and Articles of Association these powers will also apply to local authority airport companies.