§ Mr. WilkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contacts, and when, his Department has had with(a) Stagecoach Aviation Ltd and (b) other commercial interests since 2 May 1997 about (i) turning RAF Northolt into a civil airport and (ii) increasing 328W the permitted number of civil aircraft movements or the stipulated operating hours for civil aircraft at RAF Northolt. [45290]
§ Dr. Reid[holding answer 18 June 1998]: The Ministry of Defence has had no contact with Stagecoach Aviation Ltd. expressing an interest in civil operation at RAF Northolt. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence received a letter in February 1998 from Glasgow Prestwick International about combined civil/military use of RAF Northolt. Glasgow Prestwick International has since been bought by Stagecoach.
For other expressions of interest, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Pound) on Thursday 18 June 1998, Official Report, column 264.