Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Civil Aviation Authority has the power to remove the costs of refurbishment of road tunnels at Heathrow Airport from the Regulated Asset Base of Heathrow Airport Limited.

The Civil Aviation Authority, as an independent economic regulator, will consider the efficiency and reasonableness of all capital expenditure which is added to Heathrow Airport Ltd’s Regulated Asset Base. It can make ex-post decisions to remove expenditure which does not meet efficiency tests. The Civil Aviation Authority’s primary duty is to the consumer and its secondary duty is to ensure Heathrow Airport Ltd can finance its operation.