§ 3.20 p.m.
§ The Earl of KINNOULLMy Lords, 487 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 how soon the public inquiry will be held on the proposal for a second terminal at Gatwick, and when they expect the Secretary of State to be in a position to announce a decision.
§ Lord MOWBRAY and STOURTONMy Lords, the public inquiry into proposals by the British Airports Authority for expansion of the facilities at Gatwick airport will open at Crawley on 29th January next. The Government will announce their decision as soon as possible when they have fully considered the report of the inspector, but it is too early to say when this will be.
§ The Earl of KINNOULLMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that very helpful information, may I ask whether he is aware of the now considerable concern at the protracted timing and high legal costs involved with these voluntary public inquiries over the provision of additional terminals at major London airports? Is my noble friend further aware of the anxiety expressed over the rapidly diminishing capacity at Heathrow—which I understand has dealt with over 28 million passengers in this last year—while it awaits the outcome of the fourth terminal? What has happened to the inspector's report?
§ Lord MOWBRAY and STOURTONMy Lords, I think that I can confirm to my noble friend and your Lordships that the Government are aware of all these factors. As regards the inquiry he put to me about the increased facilities for aeroplanes, the reports of the Advisory Committee on Airports Policy and the Study Group on South East Airports, have now been received and once printed will be published as soon as possible. The Government's conclusion on those reports will be made known without undue delay.
As regards my noble friend's inquiry regarding the fourth terminal at Heathrow airport, the Government will announce their decision on the Heathrow inquiry as soon as consideration of the inspector's 488 report has been concluded. It is our aim to reach a decision on this matter in good time before the Gatwick inquiry opens.
§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYMy Lords, I should like to ask the noble Lord two questions—one concerning Gatwick and the other relating to it. In view of the fact that the noble Lord, Lord Trefgarne, told the House on 23rd October that the Government would decide whether or not a second runway was to be constructed at Gatwick, may I ask whether the Government have yet reached that decision; and would the noble Lord feel able to agree that the construction of a second runway should precede the construction of a second terminal?
As regards the second question, which I think is more important, would the Government, if not now at a later stage, feel able to comment on the suggestion made by the British Airports Authority that they should convert the taxi-way running parallel with the main runway at Gatwick, so that it can be used as an alternative runway in case of emergency? Does the Minister know that, when I spent a day at Gatwick last month, I saw that taxi-way; I was told that even when converted it would not be able to take the big jets which would have to be diverted in case of an emergency; that the person who took me round was fully competent to make those points which I think are important? Would the Minister take those questions on board later if he cannot answer them now?
§ Lord MOWBRAY and STOURTONMy Lords, all the points made by the noble Baroness are always interesting and important. In this case it would be wrong for me to give any opinions or suggestions as to what the Government might be thinking because we are awaiting advice. We are open-minded and we want to get the decisions, when we do make them, right.
§ Lord BOYD-CARPENTERMy Lords, can my noble friend confirm that our noble friend is right in the suggestion that the public inquiry at Gatwick is voluntary—that is to say, there is no legal necessity to hold it? If that is so, why is it being held, and how much will it cost? And is my noble friend aware 489 of the growing anxiety of many of us at the appalling delays in going ahead with the provision of badly needed facilities both at Gatwick and Heathrow?
§ Lord MOWBRAY and STOURTONMy Lords, I am aware of that. How much it will cost the Government I am not quite clear about: it will depend on the length of the inquiry and the number of representations made to it. I think that West Sussex County Council will bear their costs, and other bodies who wish to make representations will bear their costs. I am sorry to say that I cannot answer the question more fully than that.
§ Lord PARGITERMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the local authorities in the area have already been informed that there will be no second runway at Gatwick, but that what will be provided will be an alternative emergency runway which could be used only in cases of emergency?
§ Lord MOWBRAY and STOURTONMy Lords, I am not aware that any decisions at all on these matters have been made.
§ Lord AVEBURYMy Lords, in view of the fact that future levels of air transport are likely to be strongly influenced by movements in the price of aviation fuel, what information will be available to the public inquiry about which the noble Lord has asked, concerning this matter and about the relationship between the growth in the price of aviation fuel and the use made by passengers of air transport? That information may perhaps make extensions of the kind demanded unnecessary.
§ Lord MOWBRAY and STOURTONMy Lords, if the noble Lord would like to put down a Question to me on that point I shall get the answer. I am not qualified to answer at present. However, any germane proposals which affect this inquiry can be raised at the inquiry itself.
§ Lord HANKEYMy Lords, while on the subject of Gatwick, would the Government press forward the proposals for making better access to Gatwick from the 490 East, which is at present very inconvenient to the considerable populations of East Grinstead, Tunbridge Wells and places beyond, so that it is no longer necessary to drive four miles round through Horley before being able to get into the airport.
§ Lord MOWBRAY and STOURTONMy Lords, my right honourable friend the Minister of Transport is continually considering suggested improvements and no doubt when the time is ripe may come forward with some proposals.
§ Lord BALFOUR of INCHRYEMy Lords, could the Minister solve for me something of a puzzle? In view of a Government paper published many months ago which visualized Gatwick accepting up to 25 million passengers with a second terminal, how on earth can a single runway deal with the movements in and out of an airport which will have 25 million passengers going through it?
§ Lord MOWBRAY and STOURTONMy Lords, I have asked the same question as my noble friend Lord Balfour of Inchrye has asked me. I was advised that it would be possible if the planes were bigger. The airport can take larger planes.