§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether the review of London air traffic distribution will take account of the economic basis on which any future rule excluding charter airlines from access to peak-time slots at London airports would be made; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether the review of London air traffic distribution will take account of the current imbalance between scheduled and charter peak-time slot allocation at Gatwick before drafting any proposals on slot allocation or traffic distribution for comment; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's letter of 22 June to the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority set out the considerations he wished the authority to take into account in advising him on traffic distribution policy for airports serving the London area. A copy of this was placed in he Library. Section 31(4) of the Airports Act 1986 requires the authority to consult, as it considers appropriate, airport and aircraft operators who appear to it likely to be affected, and organisations representing such operators. We have no doubt some of them will raise these questions. We are confident the authority will weigh them carefully in producing options for my right hon. Friend's decision.