HC Deb 23 April 1990 vol 171 c50W
45. Mr. Amos

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the level of Government financial support for regional airports for the current financial year and for the previous year.

Mr. McLoughlin

My Department authorised borrowing totalling £29 million in 1989–90 for the development of facilities at local authority airports. For 1990–91 borrowing approvals totalling £59 million will be available. The Department does not pay grant for airport development.

49. Mr. Irvine

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made any estimates of the future growth of passenger traffic in regional airports.

Mr. McLoughlin

The Department's most recent air traffic forecasts for the United Kingdom, published in December 1988, predict that passenger movements at regional airports will be in the following ranges:

Million passengers per annum
Number
1988 30.9
1995 42.1—51.0
2000 52.4—68.2
2005 62.6—87.4

The figures indicate that regional airports' share of United Kingdom passenger traffic is expected to increase from 33 per cent. to over 37 per cent. by 2005.