§ THE EARL OF LAUDERDALEMy 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 now state their plans for developing the Third London Airport at Maplin with the aid of private enterprise.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (LORD SANDFORD)My Lords, I can at present add nothing to the Statement made in another place by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.
§ THE EARL OF LAUDERDALEMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he can give us some indication, when we may expect more information, and in particular whether he is aware that some of the private enterprise consortia which have spent much time and money in gathering data which will be useful in developing the airport are afraid that their knowledge will not be put to good use?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, I cannot go further on this point, but, as my noble friend knows, there are five or six separate considerations in connection with the establishment of the Third London Airport. The latest consultative document to be issued is on the siting of the runways. However I have nothing to add on the point raised by my noble friend.
§ THE EARL OF LAUDERDALEMy Lords, can my noble friend say whether the co-operation of private enterprise will be welcomed at some stage?
§ LORD SANDFORDYes, my Lords, there will certainly be a role for private enterprise at some later stage.
§ LORD LEATHERLANDMy Lords, can the noble Lord answer a simple question of principle; namely, whether the land is to be publicly or privately owned when it has been reclaimed?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, it will be publicly owned.