Third London Airport

HC Deb 23 July 1969 vol 787 cc1720-1

12 Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the cost of the Roskill inquiry; and if, in view of the consensus of evidence already submitted to the Commission in favour of Foulness and the lack of local opposition, he will instruct the Commission to call off the inquiry into the other three listed inland sites and to confine their inquiries to the advantages and disadvantages of Foulness as compared with other coastal sites.

Mr. William Rodgers

We expect the cost to the Government to be about £1,000,000. In order to put this sum into perspective, I should say that the direct investment alone in a third London Airport is likely ultimately to exceed £200,000,000. The answer to the second part of the question is "No, Sir".

Mr. Gwilym Roberts

I understand that to start with the Government's cost was a small part of the total cost of this particular inquiry, and would my hon. Friend not accept that an inland site is unsuitable and that it should be eliminated at this stage of the inquiry, and that the remainder of the inquiries could fruitfully look at Foulness in comparison with other possible coastal sites?

Mr. Rodgers

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's Question is, "Yes"; to the second, "No".

Sir A. V. Harvey

Taking into account the future growth of traffic, what is the latest possible date that the third London Airport or home counties airport has to be available to deal with this very difficult situation?

Mr. Rodgers

In broad terms, we are talking about the mid-'seventies.

Mr. Boston

Does my hon. Friend recall the very strong representations indeed which have been made against an airport on this site from people in Essex and Kent, not least because of the damaging effect this would have on the holiday trade, and on people enjoying comparatively inexpensive holidays there? With respect, any suggestion along the lines suggested by my hon. Friend would be regarded as very much worse than the Stansted affair?

Mr. Rodgers

I agree that this is by no means a black and white issue. I think the experience of the last month has confirmed most people in their view that it was a very wise decision to set up an inquiry of this kind.