§ 11. Mr. Haselhurstasked the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has held with the British Airports Authority about disposal of land in the safeguard area around Stansted airport.
Mr. SpicerI expect to be able to announce within the next week or so the details of the new area of safeguarded land at Stansted. The British Airports Authority will then dispose of land outside that area.
§ Mr. HaselhurstWill my hon. Friend confirm that the purpose of safeguarding, in the first place, an area of land amounting to 2,500 acres was against the possibility of a second runway? As my right hon. Friend has said emphatically that there will not be a second runway at Stansted, what is the difficulty about determining the exact amount of land of which to dispose?
Mr. SpicerI can confirm that the reason for the disposal of this land is that there will not be a second runway. I understand that certain legal difficulties have led to the delay, but they have been overcome and I expect shortly to be able to make the announcement for which my hon. Friend is looking.
§ Mr. Bowen WellsWill my hon. Friend describe the difference between the new area of which he is prepared to dispose and the area which was previously designated under inquiry by the Eyre report?
Mr. SpicerAs my hon. Friend the Member for Saffron Walden (Mr. Haselhurst) said, that land is no longer needed for a second runway. There is nothing new about this. It was proposed in the White Paper.