§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest expected date of completion of the Falkland Islands airport including the ancillary Army provision; and how this compares with the original date.
§ Sir George Young[pursuant to his answer, 28 January 1985, c. 4]: I expect the main runway to be ready for use in April 1985 and the remaining airfield facilities by about February 1986. These dates are the same as those announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 27 June 1983 at column 345. The further construction work at Mount Pleasant, which consists largely of facilities for the Army and which was announced on 21 September 1984, should be complete in early 1987.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest estimate of the cost of the Falkland Islands airport and ancillary provision; and how this compares with the original estimate.
§ Sir George Young[pursuant to his answer, 28 January 1985, c. 4]: As announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 21 September 1984, the original, June 1983 cost of the airfield works at £215 million was increased to £250 million mainly to provide for joint service facilities in the interests of overall economy. At the same time, he announced the award of new contracts to the value of £119 million to enable the garrison to be concentrated at the Mount Pleasant site. The latest costs of these two elements are respectively £260 million and £116 million. All the estimates for the airfield works include £10 million for MOD supplied navigation aids and communication equipment.