Conduct Of The Hon. Member For Langbaurgh

EDM number 2032 in 1992-93, proposed by Frank Cook on 18/05/1993.

That this House records dismay that the honourable Member for Langbaurgh should go to such lengths in his Adjournment Debate on the subject of Teesside International Airport as to misrepresent the facility's history, its operational efficiency and its commercial success; is saddened that the honourable Member should establish in such unmistakable fashion his inability to accept or represent the clear briefings freely given by a most diligent and conscientious management; recalls that the Cleveland and Durham County Council have made prior to 1987 major investment in the facility thus securing economic benefit for the region; recalls too that since 1987 such support has not been required as the airport has traded profitably; recognises that whilst the aforesaid investment has resulted in a book value of ú20 million its market valuation is a mere ú5 to ú10 million and that a sale on that basis would be a ratepayers' betrayal on a Westminster cemetery scale; understands that whilst the airport is currently in profit the excess is insufficient to attract buyers anyway; understands too that land to the south of the site, so suitable for airport-related development, can prove useful only if major road links are established in a fashion similar to the A66 link to the North undertaken by the Durham and Cleveland Councils; and finally urges the honourable Member for Langbaurgh and his colleagues in the debate, if they genuinely hold the concern they profess, to persuade their Cabinet leaders to liberate local authorities from treasury-imposed fiscal shackles and empower them to respond to local needs as they were allowed prior to 1979.

This motion has been signed by a total of 25 MPs.