asked the Minister of Aviation when he intends to bring Stansted Airport into use as the third London airport; and when he expects the new access route to the airport to be started.

The Committee appointed to examine the need for a third airport to serve London estimated that this would be required by about 1973. The provision of the new motorway to Stansted is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport. I understand that it is hoped that work will start in 1968 or 1969.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Aviation Traders intend to close one of the hangars at Stansted next September, which will cause the redundancy of some 90 skilled maintenance workers? Could he co-operate with the company concerned with a view to diverting some of the work from airfields which are understaffed to Stansted in order to retain this nucleus of highly-skilled manpower, and will he reconsider his decision and redevelop this airport at a much earlier date?

I have already had representations on these matters, notably from my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, but if the hon. Gentleman likes to add to them, I will certainly consider them. I am considering the others now.