HL Deb 30 October 1979 vol 402 cc329-32

2.53 p.m.

Lord BOYD-CARPENTER

My 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 whether they have now received the report of the inspector who held the inquiry into the proposed fourth terminal at Heathrow Airport; and whether in the light of the urgent need for this terminal they have now decided to authorise its construction.

Lord LYELL

My Lords, the Government have received the inspector's report and expect to announce their decision shortly.

Lord BOYD-CARPENTER

My Lords, may I then ask my noble friend, in thanking him for that reply, whether, although the delay occasioned by this long and probably unnecessary inquiry is not the responsibility of the Government, the Government are aware of the fact that the building of this terminal is grossly overdue and that in any event there will be very serious congestion indeed at Heathrow next summer?

Lord LYELL

My Lords, the relief of any congestion at Heathrow, and indeed increase of services elsewhere, for instance at Gatwick, will continue to be the important objective of the Government's civil aviation policies. To this end the British Airports Authority will continue to maintain its present policy of widening the disparity in the landing and the other charges at Heathrow and Gatwick, and indeed the policy will continue of allowing no airline which is not currently operating scheduled international passenger services at Heathrow to begin operations there.

Lord BOYD-CARPENTER

My Lords, will my noble friend confirm that the terms of that answer, however admirable in themselves, do not indicate any feeling on the part of Her Majesty's Government that there is other than great urgency also to build this terminal as quickly as possible?

Lord LYELL

My Lords, we accept the noble Lord's proposition that there is great urgency but we believe that there is a relatively short time until the publication of the report, and until the report is published we believe it would be in-appropriate to comment further on any steps that might be taken.

Baroness BURTON of COVENTRY

My Lords, in studying this report and in reaching their decision will the Government make sure that in the report there are definite suggestions for helping passengers with luggage not only to reach the forth-coming fourth terminal but the third, and if those subjects are not included in the report will the Government ask for them to be put in?

Lord LYELL

My Lords, I think if the noble Baroness, Lady Burton, will wait to see what is in the report we might then be able to take a firm stand, but I do not think it is right to commit the Government to take any action at this stage.

Lord AVEBURY

My Lords, will the Government not take any action until at least the report has been published and noble Lords and others have had a chance to comment? In particular can the noble Lord say what assumption is made in the report regarding the future trends in aviation fuel prices and the elasticity in the demand for air travel which may lead to a much lower rate of increase in the growth of air traffic at all London airports than has hitherto been thought likely?

Lord LYELL

My Lords, I think the assumptions which have been taken into account in the report will be prepared and put forward in the report. I could not comment further on the noble Lord's question.

Lord PARRY

My Lords, will the noble Lord accept, while making allowance for the Addison Rules, that Cardiff Wales Airport has spare capacity and would accept traffic as a result of any difficulties that might arise? May I offer the Government that information and the invitation to consider that airport when considering the report?

Lord LYELL

My Lords, the Government are always pleased to receive invitations from the noble Lord, Parry, but noble Lords will be aware after listening to radio reports of congestion on the main motorway to and from London that at this stage the suggestion is, I think inappropriate.

The Earl of CORK and ORRERY

My Lords, will Her Majesty's Government ensure that whenever the report may be published there will thereafter be ample time for the preparation of their case by those local authorities and other bodies who wish to oppose the construction of the second terminal at Gatwick?

Lord LYELL

My Lords, I think that is another question, but the Government have no intention of rushing any authorities into precipitate decisions.

Lord PARRY

My Lords, may I now offer a further invitation to the noble Lord to travel with me to Wales on the motorway or the British Rail system, which is the fastest and most effective in Britain?

Lord LYELL

My Lords, I believe that Concorde is even faster.