HC Deb 18 January 1971 vol 809 cc185-6W
Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he will study the benefits to trade and industry in the South-West, the West Midlands and South Wales, of an international airport sited on reclaimed land in the Severn Estuary;

(2) whether he will commission a study of the feasibility of locating a new international airport on reclaimed land in the Severn Estuary;

(3) what are his proposals for creating new employment in South Wales; and if he estimates that the proposal to build an international airport on reclaimed land in the Severn Estuary will create significant new employment in the area;

(4) if he will estimate how much agricultural land would be saved by building an international airport on reclaimed land in the Severn Estuary and thus returning Bristol and Cardiff Airports to agricultural use;

(5) what is his assessment of the operational difficulties to civil airlines resulting from a proposed international airport built on reclaimed land in the Severn Estuary.

Mr. Anthony Grant

It is, in the first instance, for local interests and autho- rities to consider whether a new airport is required to serve the needs of this area.