§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Transport, in respect of expenditure on airports and air travel over the next 20 years falling to him for approval in and around London, what (a) needs to be spent by Her 880W Majesty's Government in each year in order to maintain the present level of service provision and (b) is planned to be spent by Her Majesty's Government in each year.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe Government have no plans to spend any money on airports or on air travel in the London area and do not consider that there is any justification for air transport facilities in general to be subsidised by the taxpayer or ratepayer.
The British Airports Authority, which owns and manages three London airports, expects to be able to finance the present and proposed expansion of these airports, which is needed to meet the forecast growth in the numbers of passengers and to maintain the present level of service.
The Civil Aviation Authority, which is responsible for providing the air traffic control services required in the London area, similarly expects to be able to finance the expenditure necessary to maintain those services.