HC Deb 14 February 2002 vol 380 cc548-9W
Dr. Gibson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with the management of Norwich International airport in each of the last five years; and what the nature of the discussions was. [36322]

Mr. Jamieson

Over the last five years, neither my Ministers nor I have had discussions with the management of Norwich International airport.

Since the start of the South-East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) in March 1999 officials from my Department have met Norwich airport management on a number of occasions. Discussions focused on the SERAS study process, possible technical assistance by the airport in the study and the future role of the airport as perceived by the management team.

Dr. Gibson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with(a) Norfolk county council and (b) Norwich city council about the future of Norwich international airport; and what assessment he has made of the future of the airport within the Government's airport strategy. [36321]

Mr. Jamieson

Neither my Ministers nor I have had recent discussions about the future of Norwich international airport with either of the organisations.

As part of the South-East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) there have been discussions at official level with both Norfolk county council and Norwich city council about the future role of the airport.

An assessment of that role will be presented in the forthcoming public consultation on the study outcomes. This is currently scheduled for spring 2002. Decisions made following the consultation will feed into the Air Transport White Paper which we aim to publish in the second half of the year.

Dr. Gibson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of his relaxation of financial borrowing for the development of certain regional airports. [36323]

Mr. Jamieson

The relaxation of borrowing controls has allowed soundly-financed local authority airport companies to make investment plans with much greater confidence and to respond to commercial opportunities as they arise. It has also encouraged them to bring a more commercial approach to their investment decisions. Manchester and Norwich airports have made use of their freedom to borrow money from the banks, while the Newcastle shareholders have been able to restructure the airport company as a public private partnership.