§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what operating profits have been made by Northern Ireland Airports Ltd. for each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeedhamNorthern Ireland Airports Ltd. has made an operating profit in each of the last 10 years as follows:
£'000 1981–82 764 1982–83 1,194 1983–84 1,131 1984–85 1,099 1985–86 1,886 1986–87 3,422 1987–88 4,667 1988–89 4,676 1989–90 4,046 1990–91 3,316
§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recommendations were made to him by Hambros Bank Ltd. regarding the privatisation of Northern Ireland Airports Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeedhamHambros Bank Ltd. was appointed to advise the Government on the feasibility of privatising Northern Ireland Airports Ltd. Its principal conclusion was that the airport company is a viable and valuable business which could be sold. It also recommended that the most appropriate method of privatisation would be by a trade sale. The Government propose to act on this advice.