§ Mr. HaywardTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions his Department has held with the Department of Transport about achieving more effective utilisation of the facilities at RAF Northolt;
(2) what discussions his Department has held with business aircraft operators about the use of private sector investment to modernise and maintain the facilities at RAF Northolt;
(3) what proposals he has received for the establishment of a civil aviation enclave at RAF Northolt;
(4) what studies his Department has made into what savings in the running costs of RAF Northolt could be achieved by increased co-operation with business aircraft operators.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonRAF Northolt is already very effectively utilised for military aviation, and further military use is likely to be made of it as a result of our plans for defence in the nineties. Officials from my Department and the Department of Transport have recently concluded a study into the scope for future civil aviation use of RAF Northolt. Civil aircraft are already allowed to use the airfield, when military requirements permit, and make a contribution towards the cost of the runway and air traffic control facilities through payment of landing and navigation fees. The possibility of establishing a civil enclave, about which a number of representations have been received, was included in the study and the findings are currently under consideration. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the hon. Member when these deliberations are complete.