HC Deb 27 July 1989 vol 157 cc827-8W
Sir Barney Hayhoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that the letter dated 14 July from the Federation of Heathrow Anti-Noise Groups about airport and runway capacity in the south-east is carefully considered; and if he will make appropriate arrangements to establish reliable forecasts for future air passenger demand and for the size of aircraft that will be in the airline fleets to meet that demand.

Mr. McLoughlin

The federation's letter will of course be given careful attention. A copy is being passed to the Civil Aviation Authority, who will be advising my right hon. Friend next summer on strategic options for meeting demand at United Kingdom airports in the long term. My Department last published air traffic forecasts in December, and will be updating these in due course. The authority will be concerned with average passenger loads in carrying forward its present commission.