HL Deb 03 June 1981 vol 420 cc1223-4

2.55 p.m.

The Earl of Kinnoull

My 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 how soon they anticipate announcing a decision on the Gatwick Airport Terminal 2 Inquiry.

The Earl of Avon

My Lords, my right honourable friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Trade, will make an announcement as soon as the complex issues described in the inspector's report have been fully considered. It is hoped that this will be in a very few weeks' time.

The Earl of Kinnoull

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Can my noble friend advise us which departments are in fact responsible for this decision? Secondly, bearing in mind the effect it could have on the Stansted inquiry, can he say whether he is talking of weeks, or months, or hopefully, days before a decision is announced?

The Earl of Avon

My Lords, as I think my earlier reply indicated, it is a joint decision between the Secretaries of State for the Environment and Trade. I can assure my noble friend that my right honourable friends are well aware of the need to give the parties to the Stansted inquiry time to take full account of the implications of the decision on the second terminal at Gatwick in preparing their evidence.

Lord Leatherland

My Lords, would the Minister agree that this proposal to extend Gatwick makes Stansted Airport quite unnecessary?

The Earl of Avon

My Lords, I take note of what the noble Lord says, but I am sure he would not expect me in any way to prejudge this present decision.

Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede

My Lords, may I say that there obviously will be concern that work on the second terminal at Gatwick should proceed quickly once a decision has been taken? One would hope that the noble Earl would be able to advise the House if it would be possible for a decision to be available before the Summer Recess.

The Earl of Avon

My Lords, obviously I cannot commit my right honourable friends and it is difficult to be precise about a timing of a decision, but in view of the broad agreement between the two departments it should be possible to announce a decision within the next four or five weeks.