§ 3.24 p.m.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy 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 will consider having a feasibility study made (including a cost/ benefit analysis) for a runway extension at Gibraltar:
- (a) by means of the proven methods of construction in off-shore locations;
- (b) by means of a floating platform; or
- (c) by means of a land/platform combination.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN)My Lords, this proposition has been considered more than once in recent years. As noble Lords who know Gibraltar will appreciate, any proposal to extend the runway in Gibraltar will involve a number of difficult problems. The whole matter has very recently been raised again by the Gibraltar authorities and is under examination.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, I thank the noble Marquess for that reply. As this matter is being examined, would the Government consider examining a technically viable proposition, which I understand it to be, and that is for an extension to the East, partly on rock fill, and partly on a piled platform, with a floating breakwater at the end. That, I understand, is technically feasible. Can the Government look into this, if they are considering this matter seriously, as I hope they are?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, any investigation into the feasibility of this extension to the runway will, I am sure, take into account the point that the noble Lord has raised about extending the runway to the East. I was only pointing out that there are, as I am sure the noble Lord is well aware, great difficulties regarding the depth of water, and such matters. These are all problems which will have to be investigated thoroughly.