§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent consideration he has given to according gateway status to Birmingham International airport.
Mr. McLoughlin: I am examining this question at present.
§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority to discuss monitoring the number of scheduled flights between London Heathrow-Gatwick and Edinburgh-Glasgow that are either late or are cancelled with a view to publishing this information.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe authority already publishes monthly airline and route punctuality statistics covering 79W flights at six United Kingdom airports, including scheduled services between Heathrow-Gatwick and Edinburgh-Glasgow.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about future plans to increase scheduled passenger services from East Midlands international airport in the run-up to 1992.
§ Mr. McLoughlinMany routes from East Midlands international airport to European Community destinations are already open under existing Community arrangements. I am urging my European Community colleagues to take further steps towards the Single Market by giving airlines yet greater freedom to exercise their commercial judgment in offering the range of scheduled services which customers want at the keenest prices.
At present five European Community destinations are served from east midlands though more routes are available for airlines to serve if they chose to do so.