HaselhurstTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the reasons for maintaining the air traffic distribution rules which determine priority between classes of air transport carrier using airports in the London area.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe 1985 White Paper, "Airports Policy", noted that as airports become busier the need may arise for a form of regulation to distribute traffic rationally between the airports of a single system. The present traffic distribution rules for airports serving the London area were made in 1986, following advice from the Civil Aviation Authority. Last July, in response to a request for fresh advice on London air traffic distribution policy, the authority recommended only minor modifications to the existing rules. My right hon. Friend decided not to make those modifications, arid awaits the authority's further and more wide-ranging advice, due this summer, on the adequacy of United Kingdom airport capacity in the longer term.
§ Mr. HaselhurstTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has had access to independent legal opinion on the legality under United Kingdom and European Economic Community law of any future rule designed to give preference in slot allocation at Gatwick to scheduled traffic at the expense of charter traffic; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinWe have no plans to make such a rule, and have sought no advice on how the law might bear on it.