Gatwick Airport

HC Deb 13 March 1978 vol 946 cc9-10

5. Mr. Geoffrey Johnson

Smith asked the Secretary of State for Trade what air safety requirements have been taken into account when considering a throughput of 25 million passengers a year at Gat-wick Airport operating on a single runway.

Mr. Clinton Davis

Standard air traffic control criteria which ensure the safe separation between aircraft taking off and landing have been used in forecasting the runway capacity at Gatwick. There is no question of any dilution of these strict ATC criteria or of accepting lower safety standards in calculating the forecast.

Mr. Johnson Smith

Is the Minister aware that there is no airport in the world with one runway which has a throughput of 25 million passengers and that, as a consequence, local opinion is suspicious that in a few years the Minister or his successor will be forced to come to this House and ask for a second runway because the requirements of safety demand it?

Mr. Davis

I am aware of what the hon. Gentleman has said in the first part of his supplementary question, but the fact is that the British Airports Authority is of the view that there is no need for a second runway. The important point to stress is that there will be absolutely no compromise on or degrading of the safety issue, which is of paramount concern.

Mr. Hugh Jenkins

Does my hon. Friend agree that it would be better to build a second runway at Gatwick than to have a fourth terminal at Heathrow?

Mr. Davis

My hon. Friend knows very well that the question of the fourth terminal is before a planning investigation. I cannot, therefore, comment upon it. As for the second runway, I have given my answer on that. It is not within our contemplation.

Mr. Shersby

What estimate has the Minister made of the cost of improving road and rail links between Heathrow and central London as compared with the cost of £10 million to £15 million for providing an extra runway at Gatwick?

Mr. Davis

The House seems to be divided, although not necessarily on party lines, on this issue. Hon. Members must address such questions to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.