§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had about the future capacity of Welshpool airport. [53104]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyI have regular discussions with Assembly and UK Government ministerial colleagues on a wide range of transport matters, including regional airports in Wales.
Aviation is a matter reserved to the UK Government. However Assembly officials have had close contact with DTLR colleagues over the Wales Air Services study, the on-going UK Regional Air Services Co-ordination study and the Wales Air Services consultation documents which are to be published shortly. These consultation documents will form the basis of a major public consultation exercise informing preparation of an Air Transport White Paper and will:
look at a range of policy scenarios;set out options for development of capacity at regional airports such as Welshpool and associated surface access improvements in light of these scenarios;report key findings of the economic, environmental, social and airspace appraisal of these options which have been undertaken; and highlight interactions between different regional airports, and the various possible roles each might play.