Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Theresa Villiers and Lord Harrington of Watford

Thursday 27th January 2011 Commons Chamber

[Richard Harrington (Watford) (Con)]

T4. Many of my constituents and those of other Members were severely disrupted by the effects of the weather on airports in London and elsewhere. Does the Minister agree that the Civil Aviation Authority needs more powers to assess the situation and hold airport operators to account?

[Mrs Villiers]

My hon. Friend has raised an important issue. There was real concern about the way in which Heathrow dealt with the severe weather. That is one of the reasons for our plans to reform airport regulation, which include a new licensing system that will indeed give the CAA more powers to ensure that airports are properly prepared for winter.