HC Deb 04 November 1975 vol 899 cc136-7W
Mr. Gwynfor Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the extent of the financial assistance given by the Government in each year from 1965 to 1975 to airlines and airfields and air navigation services in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively.

Mr. Shore

Financial assistance has been given as follows:

SUMMARY OF PAYMENTS OF GOVERNMENT GRANTS MADE FOR AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT
£000
1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 (to end October1975)
England 223 250 752 368 118 36 54 172 98 59 18
Scotland 3,500 16 639 6,229 9,635
Wales

SUMMARY OF CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY DEFICITS ON AERODROME MANAGEMENT
£000
1972–73 1973–74 1974–75
England
Scotland 569 542 1,854
Wales

The above deficits form part of the Civil Aviation Authority's total deficits which are covered by grants under Section 10(1) of the Civil Aviation Act 1971. Before the establishment of the CAA on 1st April 1972, the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) which provide navigation services at 20 aerodromes in England, Scotland and Wales, were part of the Department of Trade and Industry. The excess of NATS expenditure over income borne on the DTI Vote as a direct charge to Government can be seen in the published Trading Accounts and Balance Sheets. This applies also to expenditure on the management of certain aerodromes owned by the Government before the establishment of the CAA.

Airlines

Apart from special assistance to BEA and BOAC of a capital nature the only payment made was to BEA Helicopters Ltd. in 1965 in the sum of £75,000 in token contribution which the introduction of the first scheduled helicopter service—to the Isles of Scilly—would make to the longer-term development of vertical take-off aircraft in this country. It is envisaged that under the provisions of the Scottish Development Agency Bill, Loganair Ltd. will this year receive about £120,000 to meet the deficit on routes in the Scottish Highlands and Islands of social significance.

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