HC Deb 25 May 1989 vol 153 c691W
Mr. Colvin

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make available accounts for Prestwick airport for the period 1985 to 1989; and if he will make a statement.

£ million
1983–88 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88
Income
Traffic charges 3.7 3.8 4.0 4.5 5.3
Concessions and property 2.0 2.1 2.0 1.9 2.5
Total 5.7 5.9 6.0 6.4 7.8
Expenditure
Staff costs 3.2 3.9 4.3 4.3 5.2
External charges 4.1 3.3 2.8 2.8 3.6
Depreciation 1.8 1.5 1.4 1.2 1.1
Total 9.1 8.7 8.5 8.3 9.9
Trading (loss) (3.4) (2.8) (2.5) (1.9) (2.1)

A BAA note to these figures remarked the extraordinary expenditure of £0.75 million in 1987–88 in marketing support for an airline, Highland express; this sum may be discounted from the expenditure account evaluating the trend of financial performance.

Mr. Colvin

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will list the representations he has received from commercial and business organisations in support of his policy of maintaining Prestwick as Scotland's gateway airport; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Representations to my right hon. Friend about Scottish lowland airports policy have taken the form of private correspondence. It would be for those concerned to make their views public, if they wished.