§ 20. Mr. Simon ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future of civil aviation in Wales. [152927]
Mr. Robert AinsworthThe study of regional airports and air services in Wales announced in the 1998 Transport White Paper was completed last year. Its findings are currently being reviewed as part of a UK wide Regional Co-ordination Study. This will provide a basis for a series of Regional Air Services Consultation Documents to be published later on this year. One of these documents will cover Wales and will provide a framework for discussion of the future of civil aviation within Wales. Responses will be considered alongside those on "The Future of Aviation" national document, on which we are currently consulting, providing a key input to the Air Transport White Paper.