24-06-03

Government admits to poor air consultation with six days left – Barrett

John Barrett MP, Scottish Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Cross Border Transport, today challenged the new Scottish Secretary, Alistair Darling, to take every possible step to increase the respond to the Government's air transport consultation, which closes on Sunday.

In an answer to Mr Barrett during today's Scottish Questions in the House of Commons, Alistair Darling, who is also Transport Secretary, admitted that 1,800 responses to the Scottish consultation had been received.  However, this figure marks a response rate of less than 3% of the 61,000 Scottish documents which have been issued by the Department for Transport.

The deadline for the consultation, which includes options for the major expansion of both Edinburgh and Glasgow airports, closes on 30th June.

In a statement, John Barrett MP, whose Edinburgh West constituency includes Edinburgh airport said:

"The air transport consultation document and the white paper to follow later in the year will have serious implications for all those who use air transport in Scotland.  It will also likely have serious consequences for people who live close to a Scottish airport like my own constituents in Kirkliston, Cramond and Ratho.

"I find it worrying that with only 6 days now left until the close of the consultation, the response rate remains less than 3%.  It all runs the risk of undermining a process, already damaged by court decisions and delays.

"If this consultation is to be both accurate and meaningful, Alistair Darling, with either of his Ministerial hats on, must work flat out in these remaining few days to ensure as many people as possible are aware of the looming deadline and feed in their views."

ENDS