§ THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERYMy 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 are in a position to report progress in the planning of an international airport at Foulness.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (LORD SANDFORD)My Lords, we are pressing ahead with the planning on many aspects of the Foulness project and will report progress as the various studies come to fruition.
§ THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERYMy Lords, I am grateful for that reply. No doubt my noble friend will keep us informed. May I ask whether in this particular connection he can say whether there has been any decision about moving the artillery range from Shoeburyness? And can he give an assurance about what might be going on elsewhere, and particularly whether there is any risk 686 of relenting in the matter of extending the runway at Gatwick?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, in answer to the first question, the planning of the move of the Defence Establishments at Shoeburyness is one of the matters on which we hope to be able to report shortly. The second question does not arise from the Question on the Order Paper.
§ THE EARL OF LAUDERDALEMy Lords, may I ask whether we are to infer from the noble Lord's reply that the studies are now going wider than was intended in the summer, when we were promised an answer in the autumn? Can the noble Lord say whether the studies now include the question of a deep sea port made more feasible by the dredging necessary to reclaim Maplin Sands?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, the nature of the other developments that may be associated with the airport at Foulness is another of the matters on which we hope to be able to report quite shortly.
§ LORD ALPORTMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether the studies at present in progress include an estimation of the additional financial burden which this development is likely to impose on the County of Essex?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, the County of Essex is associated with these studies.
§ LORD WYNNE-JONESMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether in this matter the Government are also taking into account the development of short and vertical take-off aircraft, which is extremely important with regard to the whole question of the economics of this scheme?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, not in the studies to which this Question and my Answer relate.
THE EARL OF SELKIRKMy Lords, can the noble Lord say whether agreement has been reached about the name of the airport which is to be built at Maplin Sands?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, I think not.
§ LORD LEATHERLANDMy Lords, in view of the answer which the noble Lord gave to the noble Lord, Lord Alpert, may I ask whether he is aware that the Essex County Council has already made it clear that it is in favour of the Foulness airport; that it is in favour of a seaport as well and, in addition, is in favour of some industry around that district? May I further ask the noble Lord whether there are Working Parties actively engaged at the moment in considering the various aspects of this programme: first, finance; second, land reclamation; third, transport and fourth the particular nature of the seaport which is envisaged?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, the last sentence of the noble Lord's question prejudges a number of issues, but I confirm that the Essex County Council is associated directly in the planning unit which is considering all those and other matters.
THE DUKE OF ATHOLLMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether the planning of the associated roads and railways is going ahead equally speedily, and, if so, whether they will be finished before the major part of the work on the airport starts?
§ LORD SANDFORDYes, my Lords, I can confirm that those plans are going ahead, but it will be longer before we are able to report on that subject.
§ LORD TREFGARNEMy Lords, can the noble Lord say when, if at all, the airports at Stansted and Southend will have to be closed as a result of this project?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, that is an associated matter but a different question. If the noble Lord will put down a Question I shall be glad to answer it.