§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission the cross-subsidies that Stansted airport receives from Heathrow and Gatwick airports and the effect on other regional airports; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonI have no plans to refer this question to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. Under the Airports Act 1986 the economic regulation of airports is a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority. The authority has discretionary powers to prevent subsidies which might harm other airports.