HC Deb 12 July 1988 vol 137 cc142-3W
Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the capital and operating costs, the benefit for each pound sterling of capital cost and the net present value of the rail link now being constructed with the support of his Department at Stansted airport.

Mr. David Mitchell

The capital cost of the rail link to Stansted airport is currently estimated at £45 million. As this project is a commercial venture, the operating costs and net present value of the project are confidential matters, but the investment was approved on the basis of a financial appraisal which showed that the service would operate profitably and require no grant. No estimate has been made of any external benefits generated by this scheme, because it has always been intended to be justified on financial grounds alone.

Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the operating and development costs of Stansted airport, the revenue generated by that airport and the airline charges employed at that airport; whether the Government's objective, stated at the time the British Airports Authority airports were restructured, that Stansted airport should operate on a financial basis independent of Heathrow and Gatwick airports, has been achieved; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

When the Government gave investment approval to the then British Airports Authority in 1986, the cost of the current development at Stansted airport was put at £290 million. We understand from BAA plc that the charges levied at the airport are as follows:

CHARGE ON LANDING

Charge is based on maximum total weight authorised, and it consists of two elements:

  1. (1) A fixed charge.
  2. (2) A variable charge at a rate per tonne for aircraft with a maximum total weight authorised in excess of 50 metric tonnes.

Domestic and International Flights
1 April to 31 October 1 November to 31 March
£ £
Helicopters 18.00 18.00
Fixed wing aircraft not exceeding 16 metric tonnes 200.0 20.00
Fixed wing aircraft over 16 metric tonnes not exceeding 50 metric tonnes 38.00 38.00
Aircraft over 50 metric tonnes 72.00 38.00
12.31 plus 10.94
1 Per metric tonne or part thereof in excess of 50 metric tonnes.

PASSENGER CHARGE

Charge payable per terminal departing passenger on flights operated with a maximum authorised weight in excess of five metric tonnes.

Time period of take-off Domestic flights International flight
£ £
June to September/Saturdays and Sundays 3.30 4.00
June to September/Monday to Friday 2.90 2.90
October to May/At all times 1.60 1.60