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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cardiff Airport buyout: Conservatives' value for money call | Cardiff Airport buyout: Conservatives' value for money call |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Conservatives are calling on the Welsh government to prove its plan to buy Cardiff Airport will be good value for the taxpayer. | Conservatives are calling on the Welsh government to prove its plan to buy Cardiff Airport will be good value for the taxpayer. |
| Tory AMs used a debate in the assembly to attack what they called Labour's attempt to "nationalise" the airport. | Tory AMs used a debate in the assembly to attack what they called Labour's attempt to "nationalise" the airport. |
| But ministers have defended their plans, saying they have public opinion on their side. | |
| They expect the deal to be completed in the coming months after negotiating an agreement with the current owners TBI. | They expect the deal to be completed in the coming months after negotiating an agreement with the current owners TBI. |
| First Minister Carwyn Jones, who announced last month that the Welsh government plans the buyout, has been sharply critical of the airport, which has seen declining passenger numbers. | First Minister Carwyn Jones, who announced last month that the Welsh government plans the buyout, has been sharply critical of the airport, which has seen declining passenger numbers. |
| The total was down 13% in 2011 to a little over 1.2m. Over the same period, passenger numbers at its nearest competitor, Bristol Airport, rose 1% to more than 5.7m. | The total was down 13% in 2011 to a little over 1.2m. Over the same period, passenger numbers at its nearest competitor, Bristol Airport, rose 1% to more than 5.7m. |
| There was a further fall in the first half of 2012 to 440,000 from 558,000 - a decline the airport blamed on the departure of low-cost airline bmibaby. | There was a further fall in the first half of 2012 to 440,000 from 558,000 - a decline the airport blamed on the departure of low-cost airline bmibaby. |
| A price for the deal has not been announced, but Mr Jones insists a commercial operator will be brought in to run the airport if the sale goes through. | A price for the deal has not been announced, but Mr Jones insists a commercial operator will be brought in to run the airport if the sale goes through. |
| Sources say the cost, which will be met from existing Welsh government budgets, is likely to be in the "tens of millions". | Sources say the cost, which will be met from existing Welsh government budgets, is likely to be in the "tens of millions". |
| Despite assurances that it will not receive subsidies or burden the taxpayer, there have been questions about whether public ownership will succeed in turning around the airport's fortunes. | Despite assurances that it will not receive subsidies or burden the taxpayer, there have been questions about whether public ownership will succeed in turning around the airport's fortunes. |
| Commercial operator | Commercial operator |
| The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned it might not be a long-term solution and rival Bristol airport has sought assurances that Cardiff will not get state handouts. | The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned it might not be a long-term solution and rival Bristol airport has sought assurances that Cardiff will not get state handouts. |
| Speaking in the Senedd on Wednesday, Tory transport spokesman Byron Davies said buying the airport was "a financial liability we do not need in this age of austerity". | Speaking in the Senedd on Wednesday, Tory transport spokesman Byron Davies said buying the airport was "a financial liability we do not need in this age of austerity". |
| "This government is fundamentally ill-equipped to deal with the strategic direction of Wales, let alone an airport," he said. | "This government is fundamentally ill-equipped to deal with the strategic direction of Wales, let alone an airport," he said. |
| For the Liberal Democrats, Eluned Parrot said she had no philosophical objection to a publically-owned airport, but she had seen no evidence it would mean more flights for passengers, represent good value for money for taxpayers or benefit the economy. | For the Liberal Democrats, Eluned Parrot said she had no philosophical objection to a publically-owned airport, but she had seen no evidence it would mean more flights for passengers, represent good value for money for taxpayers or benefit the economy. |
| The first minister's "immoderate rhetoric" about the airport had "scared away any airlines that may have been interested in running flights from Cardiff", she added. | The first minister's "immoderate rhetoric" about the airport had "scared away any airlines that may have been interested in running flights from Cardiff", she added. |
| Plaid Cymru AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas said the airport should be a gateway to Wales, but "it is failing entirely". | Plaid Cymru AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas said the airport should be a gateway to Wales, but "it is failing entirely". |
| Although something had to be done about it, he said that after publically criticising the airport for months the first minister "has been forced into a position where he had to take action". | Although something had to be done about it, he said that after publically criticising the airport for months the first minister "has been forced into a position where he had to take action". |
| Business Minister Edwina Hart said negotiations about buying the airport were commercially confidential and that she could not provide a "running commentary" on them. | |
| The government had a good working relationship with the current owners, she told AMs. | |
| "Nobody has been put into a corner, I can assure you," she said. | |
| The purchase will go ahead if the due diligence process satisfies ministers that it represents a "sound investment". | |
| On Tuesday, Mr Jones defended the move when he faced AMs in the Senedd chamber for the first time since announcing the plan. | |
| He said the Welsh government was "proud of the fact that we have secured the future of Cardiff Airport" and claimed the Conservatives were "out of touch with public opinion". |