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Civil Aviation Bill

The airport that I know best is Stansted, which comes within four local authorities—two county councils in Essex and Hertfordshire, and two district councils in Uttlesford and East Hertfordshire. Those four authorities work very well together in working with or against planning applications; any such application must be given to Uttlesford District Council; big ones normally end up with the Secretary of State. I would want those four authorities to be involved. My amendment is mainly concerned with the power of airport managers. To confer more powers on the local authorities, or consortiums of local authorities, and involve local communities, would be the right way forward. We shall probably come back to this subject, but I believe that we should strengthen those consultative committees, because they are a very important part of the process and can involve local authorities and local people. They play a vital part in airports and with the public concern for the future of air travel.