12 Dec 2000
A new Government consultation document marks a major step in developing a strategy for UK air services for the next 30 years, Scottish Secretary John Reid said today.
Welcoming the document, which is published today, Mr Reid called on all Scots air service users to play their part in developing the strategy for the 21st Century that will give Scotland air services to be proud of.
Dr Reid said:
"With 16,000,000 passengers a year using Scotland's airports, Scotland's air services play a vital and important role in the prosperity of the country. They are vital for tourism and business travel as well as for access to our remote and Island communities. The UK consultation document is the start of a process that will produce a strategy that will be an important step towards establishing the first comprehensive transport policy in a generation.
"The UK consultation document focuses on strategic issues vital for all air services users. The results of the consultation will feed into the development of a more detailed consultation exercise on specific Scottish issues to be produced in co-operation with the Scottish Government. I would urge all relevant parties to comment on this important exercise."
NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS.
1. The consultation document seeks to build on and complement the provisions of the Westminster Transport Bill and the current Transport Bill in the Scottish Parliament. It follows up the publications of the DETR and Scottish Office Transport White Papers of 1998. Under the Scotland Act responsibility for aviation primarily lies with the UK Government. The Scottish Government has responsibilities concerning ownership of the Highlands and Islands Airports Limited.
2. Lord Macdonald, DETR Minister for Transport, announced the publication of the UK consultation document at a conference in London "The future of air transport" organised by the Centre for Transport Policy at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. The Paper examines the following issues:
3. The Consultation Document will be followed up by separate detailed documents for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and each of the English Regions. All documents will be published simultaneously next year.