§ 2.56 p.m.
§ Lord BRAYEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government, in view of the long delay expected in the building of a second runway at Gatwick airport, whether they would consider installing ground control radar at Gatwick, as at Heathrow airport.
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, the White Paper on Airport Policy does not envisage a second runway at Gatwick airport. The Civil Aviation Authority have decided on the eventual installation of ground control radar. The time-scale depends on other developments; in particular, the building of a new elevated control room in the terminal area complex. They are satisfied that the existing facilities are suitable for the present usage of the airport.
§ Lord BRAYEMy Lords, in thanking the noble Lord for his reply, may I say that considerable delay may occur before installation takes place. It does not need me to remind your Lordships that not very long ago—
§ Lord BRAYEMy Lords, is the Minister aware that there was a very serious accident not long ago on a runway in the Canary Islands? I am sure that we do not want a repetition of such an accident at Gatwick airport.
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, ground control radar is additional monitoring equipment installed in large, congested airports, in particular those which have a complex of taxiways and parking spaces. There are 12 in existence, and one of them is at Heathrow. In the judgment of the Civil Aviation Authority the volume of traffic and dimensions of the airport will not justify the installation at Gatwick until the mid-1980s. Furthermore, such equipment has to be very carefully located. In the development which is at present being planned there is to be a new elevated control room with the equipment on the roof. I have no doubt that we shall get better results by waiting for that.
§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYMy Lords, may I ask the Minister two brief questions which arise from the absence of a second runway? Does he not agree that it is impossible to arrive at an average number of flights if one uses the summer peak and the winter low as component parts? Secondly, is he aware that those of us who are interested in these matters do not believe that the summer peak at Gatwick can be augmented in the intervening years without a second runway?
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, first, I am advised by the Civil Aviation Authority that, in making their estimates, they have taken into account the summer peak. So far as a second runway is concerned, I would remind the House that on 22nd February—only two sitting days ago—I made a detailed Statement on why there should not be a second runway at Gatwick. I invite my noble friend to read what I had to say on that occasion.
§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYI disagree, my Lords.
§ Lord BOYD-CARPENTERMy Lords, arising from the noble Lord's Statement to which he has referred his noble friend, may I ask whether he can tell the House how the British Airports Authority are getting on with their recently announced proposal to widen the taxiway at Gatwick so as to enable it to be used in an emergency as a second runway? Will the Government insist upon a public inquiry, or are they going to get on with the job?
§ Lord JACQUESThat is not at present known, my Lords. At this stage the Civil Aviation Authority are in contact with the airlines and have not yet made their decision as to whether they will make planning application. Therefore, the matter which the noble Lord has raised does not yet arise.
§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that I have of course read with great interest his speech to which he referred, but that I venture to disagree with what he said?
§ Lord JACQUESI have no doubt about that, my Lords, but I am putting forward the Government's point of view, and I am prepared to defend it. If the noble Baroness cares to table an Unstarred Question, I shall defend it.
§ Lord BALFOUR of INCHRYEMy Lords, on the grounds of maximum safety, have not the Government received representations from the British Airline Pilots' Association that GCA should be installed at the earliest possible moment?
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, I took the liberty of acquainting myself with this question as well as I possibly could, and I can advise the noble Lord that I know nothing of the issue which he has raised.
§ Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARYLEBONEMy Lords, is the Minister aware that the noble Baroness, Lady Burton of Coventry, almost always wins in the end?
§ Lord JACQUESI can only say that i am not yet defeated, my Lords.