HC Deb 14 May 1971 vol 817 cc181-2W
Mr. Bishop

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessments he has made of the cost of non-productive flying due to air traffic congestion, loss of earnings due to non-effective flying hours and time and money lost through surface traffic congestion between airports and city centres.

Mr. Anthony Grant

No specific studies on these subjects have been under-taken but the factors mentioned are normally taken into account as components of other studies as, indeed, they were included in those of the Commission on the Third London Airport (Papers and Proceedings, Vol. VII, part Chapter 11, paragraph 29, and annex H to Chapter 13).

Surface traffic congestion is, of course a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and it may be helpful to mention the Report of a Study of Rail Links with Heathrow Airport published by H.M.S.O. last year. Paragraphs 4.5.3 onwards especially refer to this topic.