HC Deb 07 March 1986 vol 93 cc311-3W
Mr. Couchman

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total value of European Economic Community grants and subsidies given to Manchester international airport since 1956

No further modifications are planned.

Mr. Hancock

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has plans to bring greater and more effective liaison between driving examiners and instructors.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Local liaison between examiners and instructors is necessarily limited to ensure impartiality of testing. The Department organises regular opportunities for instructors to visit the Department's driving establishment at Cardington, Bedfordshire, to see how examiners are trained. Senior officials meet instructors' representatives frequently.

Mr. Hancock

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of people working at each driving centre in Hampshire each year since 1980.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The number of staff at centres in Hampshire at various dates between 1 January 1981 and 5 March 1986 are as shown. No figures are available for 1980.

Mr. Michael Spicer

Manchester international airport has been allocated grants totalling £10.6 million by the European regional development fund for airport development.

Mr. Couchman

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total value of Government subsidy given to Manchester international airport since it was formed in 1956.

Mr. Michael Spicer

I shall answer this question shortly.

Sir Fergus Montgomery

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the future ownership and control of Manchester international airport following the abolition of the Greater Manchester council on 1 April.

Mr. Michael Spicer

The 10 districts within the present Greater Manchester council (GMC) have reached agreement on the establishment of a joint committee to assume control of the operation of Manchester international airport (MIA) on 1 April. They have also agreed on the transfer to them from the same date of the GMC's interests in the airport. It is the districts' intention shortly thereafter to transfer MIA to a jointly-owned public limited company.

As I indicated in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East, (Mr. Thurnham) on 6 December 1985, the Government continue to have reservations about some of the details of the arrangements for the new company; but the districts have acknowledged that these arrangements will have to be brought into compliance with the requirements of the Airports Bill once it is enacted. We shall be ready to use our powers under the Bill to ensure that that is brought about.

Accordingly, I have today laid before the House the Local Government Reorganisation (Airports) Order, made under section 40(1) of the Local Government Act 1985, which, inter alia, will transfer the interests of the GMC in MIA to the districts in accordance with the agreement they have reached.

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future ownership and control of Manchester airport.

Mr. Ridley

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Altrincham and Sale (Sir F. Montgomery) earlier today.