asked the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made in the context of the White Paper on airports policy as to the projected passenger throughput in Birmingham airport by 1990; and if he will make a statement.

Regional airports are expected to grow at an average annual rate in excess of 4 per cent. to the end of the century. If Birmingham international achieves an average level of growth, it would be handling more than 2·1 million passengers a year by 1990. The Government are anxious to encourage the use of Birmingham and other regional airports, and stand ready to discuss with regional airport authorities the opportunities for developing new routes and their plans for development.