§ Mr. Geoffrey Johnson Smithasked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in view of the findings of a study carried out for this in 1976 which showed that if a charge of £13.50 were imposed on all international passengers using airports in the London area nearly half of such passengers could be expected to choose to use regional airports instead, he will estimate what would be the effects of imposing a charge of £6.75 at London airports and a subsidy of £6.75 at regional airports at 1976 prices; and whether he will give the equivalent figures at current prices.
§ Mr. TebbitThe implications of imposing a surcharge on passengers using 421W the London airports are set out in the report of the Advisory Committee on Airports Policy. As my right hon. Friend made clear in his statement on 17 December, it is the Government's intention that the demand for air transport should be met, and that the fullest possible use be made of regional airports. The Government believe that this should be achieved through the operation of market forces, and not by a policy of subsidisation of regional airports.