§ Mr. McAvoyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve rail and road communications to Prestwick airport; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Government are committed to improving the A77 Ayr road route south of Glasgow in due course when Strathclyde regional council proceeds with improvements to that part of the route for which it is responsible.
Rail links are primarily a matter for British Rail and Strathclyde regional council, but the Government consider that investment in such a link would not be justified at the present time. The matter will, however, be kept under review in the light of trends in the level of passenger traffic using the airport.