§ Lord BOSTON of FAVERSHAMMy 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 any studies are now being made into the possible need for a new airport for London; and, if so, whether any such studies involve the resurrection of proposals for an airport at Foulness or Maplin (the abandonment of which was confirmed in the recent White Paper Airports Policy).
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, events since 1974 have confirmed that the Government's decision to cancel the Maplin project was correct. However, in its recent White Paper on Airports Policy the Government recognise that, in the long term, the construction of a 2 new airport is one of the options that should be considered. Arrangements are being made to establish an appropriate body to formulate advice on these longer-term options.
§ Lord BOSTON of FAVERSHAMMy Lords, would my noble friend accept that the abandonment of Maplin, and the confirmation of that decision in the Airports Policy White Paper published on 1st February this year, was admirable and a matter for congratulation? Would he also accept that his Answer this afternoon in that respect is thoroughly satisfactory, is again a matter for congratulation and indeed provides a timely opportunity for the rejection of some rather ill-informed speculation that has gone on over the past couple of weeks or so?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for his kind remarks.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that we from this side have been pressing the need for consideration of the requirement of a third London Airport towards the end of this century? Is it not the case that the choice that remains is, as it always has been, one between a new airport at Maplin and the development of Stansted?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMNo, my Lords: as I understand the position it 3 lies between the development of Stansted, the conversion of a military airfield or a third choice.
§ Lord BALFOUR of INCHRYEMy Lords, would the Minister agree that this document, Airports Policy, is really in tatters now, having regard to developments since then? How are we going to accept 72 million passengers in the London area by 1990 when first the Stansted development is cancelled, Luton development is restricted, the fourth terminal at London Airport is made subject to inquiry—its fate is in doubt and it will take many years to make—and, as to Gatwick, the inquiry has not even started? Is it not necessary not to have another consultative body but for the Government to take decisions on these matters without delay?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, the noble Lord himself has pointed out that a potential crisis period is 12 years away. I should have thought that it would be valuable to discuss the matter along the lines I have suggested, particularly since the 1974 report was in fact made invalid by the growth in numbers of wide-bodied jets which are being used.
§ Lord LEATHERLANDMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that there are powerful arguments against any major expansion of Stansted because such a major expansion would spoil one of the most delightful country areas within reach of London?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, the trouble seems to be, purely as a personal view, that no airport is welcome anywhere because we live in a small, crowded island.
§ Lord REIGATEMy Lords, would the third choice to which the noble Lord referred actually be somewhere off the Essex coast, such as Maplin or Foulness?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I think that that will be born from the collective wisdom of the Committee that will be set up.
§ Lord THOMASMy Lords, could the noble Lord assure the House that 4 when a reconsideration about Maplin is put into being, full consideration will be given to the facts against Maplin, such as distance from London, bird strike, cost of erection and all that sort of thing?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I am certain that these important factors will be considered.
§ Lord WYNNE-JONESMy Lords, would my noble friend agree that there is another possibility, and that is that there should be an airport on Severnside, which would be within easy reach of London because express trains could run directly from there to London? Would he not agree that such a possibility is one also to be taken into account, and therefore that there is every reason for consideration by the Government?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I understand that there is an Unstarred Question on the point made by my noble friend. Perhaps he would like to take that opportunity to express his views on the subject.
§ Lord BOSTON of FAVERSHAMMy Lords, would my noble friend agree that so far as Maplin is concerned all the arguments which led to its rejection are just as valid today as they were over the nearly ten years of consideration, and that it would therefore have been an economic, environmental and indeed an aviation disaster?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, as I said in my Answer to the noble Lord, events since 1974 have confirmed, in the Government's view, that the decision to cancel Maplin was correct.