§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Trade why his Department is preventing expenditure for the development at Manchester airport of a longer runway to enable wide-bodied aircraft movements; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TebbitThe Greater Manchester council, on behalf of the Manchester International Airport Authority, submitted a bid on 9 October for the extension of Manchester airport's runway to be designated as a project of national or regional importance under the terms of the Local Government, Planning and Land (No. 2) Bill, now before Parliament, 625W and for an appropriate allocation to be made for capital expenditure on this project in 1981–82. This application is being considered alongside similar bids from other local authority airports and I intend to announce a decision at about the same time as the rate support grant settlement is announced.