HC Deb 13 December 1982 vol 34 cc40-1W
Sir Peter Mills

asked the Minister for Trade if he will direct an increased proportion of public support to regional airports in order to promote their use rather than the use of airports in the South-East of England.

Mr. Sproat

The promotion and development of regional airports is the responsibility in the first instance of their owners who, in England and Wales, are usually local authorities. For its part, the Government have made public expenditure provision for an extensive programme of improvements and capital development at the main regional airports and in the five financial years 1979–80 to 1983–84 the investment authorised is expected to amount to approximately £2.72 per passenger at those airports, as against about £2.31 per passenger at the London area airports, including Luton.