§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he proposes to take in the light of the reports on the Channel tunnel and airports policy launched by the North of England Regional Consortium, a copy of which has been sent to him.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomley[holding answer 12 July 1988]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has read these reports with interest and I have commented on some aspects of NOERC's recommendations on airports policy in my answers of 12 July to the right hon. Gentleman.
The Government are already on record as supporting the provision of a second terminal at Manchester when this can be justified by demand and return on capital. Public sector borrowing restrictions apply to regional airports only so long as they remain under the control of local authorities. The North of England Regional Consortium may wish to send copies of the airports policy document to the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority in light of the CAA review referred to in my answer to the right hon. Gentleman of 12 July, column 145.
As far as the Channel tunnel is concerned, the issues raised in the consortium's report are mainly for the British Railways Board, to whom I understand the consortium has already sent a copy. My hon. Friend the Minister of State has in the past discussed with the consortium its concerns about the impact of the tunnel on the north of England.