§ Mr. HaselhurstTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the impact of BAA plc's latest London area traffic growth statistics for the first nine months of 1994 on the Department's air traffic forecasts published earlier this year; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Norris[holding answer 2 December 1994]: The increase in passengers numbers in the first nine months of 1994 at the BAA London airports, equivalent to growth of 7 per cent. per annum, has no impact on the Department's air traffic forecasts. The Department's forecasts are for air traffic growth in the longer term. Deviations from long-term growth rates in individual years can be expected given the cyclical nature of economic growth.