HC Deb 05 July 1979 vol 969 cc674-5W
Mr. Hordern

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish a table showing the number of passenger movements of Gatwick Airport in each of the last 10 years, divided betwen chartered and scheduled flights with an estimate for the current year.

Mr. Tebbit

The following is the information:

in its period of existence the Price Commission required companies to provide confidential information; where such information was stored; and what will happen to the information after the abolition of the Commission.

Mrs. Sally Oppenheim

It would not be possible to answer the first part of the question without disproportionate expenditure. Confidential information in the possession of the Commission is stored under secure conditions. When the Commission is abolished, records considered to be of permanent value will be retained and will become the property of the Secretary of State. They will not be available for public inspection until 30 years have elapsed in accordance with the provisions of the Public Records Acts 1958 and 1967.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will ensure that the Price Commisison either destroys or returns the confidential information made available to it by brewing companies during the Commission's investigation of beer prices.

Mrs. Sally Oppenheim

The Secretary of State has no power to direct the commission to do this.