§ Mr. DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the direction of trend in business aviation use at United Kingdom airfields.
§ Mr. NorrisMy Department does not produce separate forecasts for demand for business aviation. However, the Government believe that such demand is likely to be correlated with economic growth and therefore in the longer term the trend is likely to be upward.
§ Mr. DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what spare capacity for business aviation exists at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports.
§ Mr. NorrisAt Heathrow and Gatwick airports the runways are essentially full in the peak periods; general aviation services can obtain permission to use these airports no more than ten days in advance. At Stansted airport there is an administrative annual limit of 78,000 passenger air transport movements. Flights with less than 10 passengers and certain others are not included in this limit. Any increase to the annual limit would require the approval of both Houses of Parliament. Some 48,000 air transport movements operated last year.
§ Mr. DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the Government's policy on ensuring that a suitable airport or airports close to central London will continue to be available for business aviation use;
(2) what are the plans to retain and develop suitable London airports for business aviation use.
§ Mr. NorrisThe Government have acknowledged for some time that access to Heathrow and Gatwick airports will become increasingly difficult for general aviation and that alternative facilities will need to be used. The Government believe that there remains unused airport capacity within reach of central London—including at Stansted and Luton airports.
As far as airport facilities not generally serving commercial passengers are concerned, there are facilities at a number of sites. The Department has been in discussion 755W with the Ministry of Defence about the scope for establishing a privately operated civil enclave for business aviation users at RAF Northolt.
The recent planning policy guidance on transport—PPG13—published by the Secretary of State for the Environment says that local authorities should take into account the contribution of general aviation when formulating plans. This would be relevant if permission was being sought for any change of use.
The Department will seek to ensure through the planning system that the benefits of business aviation are fully reflected in local plans. Within this framework it is for airport operators to make decisions on the development of facilities, in the light of their commercial judgment.
§ Mr. DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are his Department's estimates of the increase in demand over the next 20 years for business aviation capacity in the London area.
§ Mr. NorrisMy Department does not produce estimates of demand separately for business aviation.
§ Mr. DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport which airports within 30 miles of central London, which are currently being used for business aviation, are due to close during the next 10 years.
§ Mr. NorrisI understand that Hatfield and Leavesden aerodromes are to close this year.
§ Mr. DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport which airfields, other than Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, near London, are planned for continuing business aviation use.
§ Mr. NorrisAerodromes near London available for continuing business aviation use are Biggin Hill, Blackbushe, Elstree, Fairoaks, Farnborough, London Luton, London City, Northolt and Southend. Some of these cannot take all types of aircraft.
§ Mr. DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department and the Civil Aviation Authority have made of the effect of access difficulties to London airports on the scale of business aviation; and what evidence he has of business aviation being transferred to France.
§ Mr. NorrisI have encouraged the business aviation community to provide me with information on the industry; my Department is currently undertaking a study with the Department of Trade and Industry into the demand
756W
Department of Transport—Staff in post 1 April 1993 Grade Total number Women Ethnic minority Disabled Number percentage Number percentage Number percentage 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 25 2 8.0 0 0 0 0 4 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 110 8 7.3 1 0.9 0 0 6 146 7 4.8 6 4.1 0 0 7 763 73 9.6 24 3.1 0 0 All 15,246 6,946 45.6 736 4.8 198 1.3 and economic case for business aviation. I have no evidence that business aviation is transferring from the United Kingdom to France.