§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates he has made of the average cost per passenger movement at airports administered by the British Airports Authority in the financial year 1970–71; and how this compares at constant prices, with the corresponding costs in the years 1960–61 and 1965–66.
§ Mr. NobleThe traffic operating cost, excluding interest, per air transport passenger, derived from British Airports Authority data, was 71p. At 1965–66 prices, this is estimated to be about 55p. A figure for 1965–66 derived from the then airport accounts is 45p but the accounting basis used is not comparable. Between 1965–66 and 1970–71 there was a major development of airport facilities. Similar figures for 1960–61 cannot be made available without incurring disproportionate costs.