Air Traffic: Runway Capacity (Hansard, 13 April 1989)

HL Deb 13 April 1989 vol 506 cc379-80 379

§ Lord Boyd-Carpenter asked Her Majesty's Government:

§ What action they are taking to ensure that an additional runway for use by civil aircraft is provided in the South-East before the end of the century.

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Lord Brabazon of Tara)
My Lords, the Civil Aviation Authority is due to provide my right honourable friend in July with advice on the adequacy of UK airport capacity in the period to 2005. Our first step must be to consider that advice.

§ Lord Boyd-Carpenter
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Is he in a position to say that if the universal opinion in the aviation world is borne out, and another runway in the South-East is required by the end of the century, it will be possible to provide it; or has time gone too far already?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, obviously we shall need to see what advice we receive in July from the CAA when it has completed the consultations that it sought in its CAP 548 document. I have no doubt that if another runway were required in the South-East by the turn of the century it would indeed be possible to achieve.

§ Lord Strathcarron
My Lords, before asking a supplementary question I ought to declare an interest. I am chairman of Kent international airport. It may be better known to your Lordships as Manston airport in Kent. Is the Minister aware that Kent international airport has a runway long enough to take the largest aircraft, new passenger terminal buildings, and is outside the London control zone? It is therefore ideal for easing congestion in the South-East.

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for his information. I have no doubt that Manston will be putting forward, or will have put forward, its views to the CAA so that those can be taken into account when the time comes to give us advice.

§ Lord Ferrier
My Lords, is the Minister satisfied that the authorities are giving sufficient attention to the development of the various connections with airports such as Prestwick in order to relieve the pressure on the South?

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§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, Prestwick is a long way from the South-East, to which my noble friend's Question refers. I have told my noble friend Lord Ferrier on a number of occasions that the BAA has asked us to review the situation at Prestwick. We have not yet made a decision.

§ Lord Ferrier
My Lords, I am sorry that I did not hear all of the Minister's reply. However, Prestwick is becoming nearer as the railway services speed up.

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, it may be nearer in time, but the distance remains the same so far as I know. One must recognise that 75 per cent. of the traffic using south-eastern airports emanates in the South-East of England.

§ Lord Carmichael of Kelvingrove
My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Ferrier, that as much traffic as possible should be taken away from the South-East. Perhaps we can all agree on that, whatever methods one uses to do so.
I assume that the report will also include air traffic control as well as runway capacity. This extremely important subject is of great concern to everyone as the Minister will know from the number of Questions that arise on it and the public interest in it. Will he use his best effort to have an open debate in the House as soon as the report is available for publication?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, obviously a debate would be a matter for the usual channels to decide. Air traffic control will have to be taken into account by the CAA when it gives us advice. It is one of the most important factors in the equation.