HC Deb 16 June 1980 vol 986 c364W
40. Sir Ronald Bell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why he is currently allowing air transport movements at Heathrow to exceed an annual rate of 275,000 ; and why he plans to limit the number of such movements to that figure when the fourth terminal is in operation.

Mr. Eyre

The Government do not believe that it would be reasonable to impose a limitation on the number of air transport movements at a time when the capacity of Heathrow is effectively limited to that of the existing terminal buildings. The decision to impose a ceiling on the number of air transport movements when the fourth terminal opens was taken in response to the recommendations of the inspector in his report of the public inquiry.