§ Sir John Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Transport if, following the publication of Cmnd. 9111 on regional industrial development and the decision to proceed with the electrification of the eastern route by British Rail, he will now consider infrastructure grants and application to the European Economic Community regional development fund to promote a Sheffield and South Yorkshire airport at Catcliffe.
§ Mr. David MitchellIt remains United Kingdom policy to press for inclusion of airports in the scope of any EC transport infrastructure regulation. The prospects for funding under this heading remain highly uncertain however and further submissions would therefore be 261W premature. As far as the European regional development fund is concerned, it is for the local authority concerned to make application to the Department of the Environment regional office. Any application for consent to operate an airport at Catcliffe would be considered against the criteria of need and viability.