HC Deb 29 March 1971 vol 814 cc258-9W
52. Mr. Tilney

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what he regards as an adequate sample of likely demand for the use of new airports before investing national funds in such projects.

Mr. Noble

Forecast demands of future airport traffic are based on a number of factors of which past and present use is only one. I am satisfied that the 1 per cent. sample used in the 1968 survey provided a reliable indication of the origins and destinations of passengers using the London area airports.