§ 62. Mr. Stodartasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now announce when his Department will hand over Turnhouse Airport to the British Airports Authority; and what has caused the delay in reaching terms that are agreeable to both parties.
§ 66. Mr. Rankinasked the President of the Board of Trade what terms are being offered to the British Airports Authority for taking over Edinburgh Airport.
§ Mr. Goronwy Roberts:The provisional agreement reached with the Authority two years ago about a transfer cannot be taken further until a decision has been reached on the future development of the airport. I would hope to make a statement about a transfer as soon as possible thereafter.
§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the President of the Board of Trade what specific improvements will be made at Turnhouse Airport to be completed before the commencement of the Commonwealth Games; and what is the estimated cost.
§ Mr. Goronwy Roberts:Improvements expected to be completed at Turnhouse before the Commonwealth Games consist of an aerodrome surveillance radar, a distance from touchdown indicator; surface dressing of the main runway; and improvements to the public address system at a total estimated cost of £170,000.
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§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has received from Edinburgh Corporation and other interested local authorities in the last three years indicating a willingness to bear some of the cost of improving facilities at Turnhouse Airport.
§ Mr. Goronwy Roberts:We have had no such proposals from any local authorities. As I told the House on 28th November last in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell), the Edinburgh Corporation informed the Board of Trade in March, 1969, that there was no possibility of the Corporation making a contribution towards a new runway.—[Vol. 792, c. 170–1.]
§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the President of the Board of Trade how many passengers and how much freight have been handled at Turnhouse Airport in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. Goronwy Roberts:The answer contains a number of figures, most of which have been published.
Following is the information:
TRAFFIC AT EDINBURGH AIRPORT (TURNHOUSE) Year Passengers* Freight (Metric Tons) 1960 … … 224,979 246.8 1961 … … 269,796 516.2 1962 … … 329,600 788.0 1963 … … 399,211 868.8 1964 … … 454,196 1,015.2 1965 … … 499,779 1,302.2 1966 … … 542,488 1,849.4 1967 … … 613,657 2,362.2 1968 … … 628,643 3,345.1 1969 … … 616,467 3,141.9 * Including transit passengers.
§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now give the details of expenditure to be incurred in the current financial year to improve facilities at Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh.
§ Mr. Goronwy Roberts:I cannot give complete details so early in the financial year.
The following is the information presently available:
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£ Temporary office building to release space in terminal 14,500 Additions to aerodrome lighting 18,000
£ Main runway surface dressing 24,000 Apron extension 3,000 Car park extension 1,800 Improvements within terminal building 5,500 Improvements to public address system 600 Minor works 1,500 Aerodrome surveillance radar 24,000 Second instrument landing system(I.L.S.) 22,000 Distance from touchdown indicator 6,000 Estimated total 120,900