To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answers to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley of 3 April, Official Report, column 501, when he decided not to publish the responses received to the consultation document on Scottish lowland airports policy; what objections were raised by respondents to the proposals of paragraph 17 of the consultation document on Scottish lowland airports policy that it was assumed that respondents have no objection to their responses being published, unless they specifically indicate otherwise; and what considerations of public policy underlay his decision to change his policy regarding the publication of responses to the consultation document on Scottish lowland airports policy from that set out in paragraph 17 of the consultation document.

Paragraph 17 of the consultation document did not represent a policy statement. A presumption of publication was offered as the basis for respondents to make their wishes on this known. In the light of the wishes expressed, my right hon. Friend took a policy decision not to publish any responses, for the reasons explained to the hon. Member in my reply of 3 April 1990, Official Report, column 501.