HL Deb 24 May 1990 vol 519 cc1017-9

Baroness Burton of Coventry asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have now been advised by the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of the date he expects to present his report on the adequacy of United Kingdom airport capacity in the period to 2005 and, if not, when they anticipate receiving such advice.

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I am unable to add to the reply that I gave to the noble Baroness on this matter on 19th April. The Government expect to receive the authority's advice in July.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, I hope that the Minister feels some regret at having to read that Answer today which reflects credit on neither the CAA nor the Government. Does he understand, in view of the complacency of the Answer that he has given today, that I find it difficult to accept the government statement that they fully recognise the importance of the subject? Yet he made that statement in the House on 19th April? What redress has a Member when an organisation takes that attitude which I regard as being one either of contempt or of arrogance?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I do not accept anything that the noble Baroness has said. She will be aware of the complexities involved in producing a report of this nature. It has taken two years and at this stage the CAA is unable to give a firm date for publication. As well as placing a copy in the Library I can assure the noble Baroness that the department will forward to her a personal copy, which she deserves, as soon as it arrives.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that few of us would associate ourselves with the quite unnecessarily offensive observations about himself which the noble Baroness applied? Is he also aware that many of us would like to see the report in time for it to be debated before the House adjourns For the Summer Recess? Can he do his best to help to bring that about in view of the enormous importance of the matter?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for his support. The authority's advice will be important as regards the way in which the Government take forward their airports strategy. In view of that, I am sure that noble Lords will agree that it would be a mistake to pressure the authority to publish its report before it is ready to do so. If it is ready to do so before the end of July I doubt whether I shall be able to comment substantively on what it says. We must first consider the report's contents.

Lord Underhill

My Lords, does the Minister recall that when the matter was raised on 19th April I referred to the report of the two-year review of air congestion carried out by IATA? Can he now say whether it is intended to respond to the document separately or whether a decision has been taken to consider it together with the CAA's report?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, on 19th April I told the noble Lord, Lord Underhill, that I would pass on his suggestion to my right honourable friend. I can now tell him that the proposals included in the IATA report will certainly be considered in the light of the CAA's recommendations.

Lord Clinton-Davis

My Lords, is the Minister aware that considerable action is being taken to improve airport capacity on the continent of Europe? Is he also aware of the deleterious effects that that could have, unless action of the most urgent kind is taken, on our ability within the United Kingdom to function as an effective centre for air traffic?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, the management of air space, not runways, is the main cause of congestion in the United Kingdom at present. Additional runways will not help to relieve that congestion. We must wait until we see the CAA's advice.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, as regards the matter of urgency, does the Minister's brief contain the information that on 24th July last year I asked his noble friend Lord Brabazon of Tara, who was then the Minister concerned, whether he realised that there appeared to be no feeling of urgency about the matter and that until there was such a feeling we should simply go on waiting? Can the Minister do anything to impress that upon the Government.

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I have said on a number of occasions that there is urgency, about which we are aware. The department is already considering ways to take forward the CAA's advice when it is received. There is no question of the issue lying dormant.

Lord Annan

My Lords, is not one of the problems facing the British Airways Authority the incredible length of time that planning decisions over where to site airports and whether to increase their capacity take?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, the noble Lord has a point. I still believe that we must wait and read the report before we discuss the matter further.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, in view of the length of time any possible solution would take to implement, does not the point raised by the noble Lord, Lord Annan, underline the urgency of taking decisions quickly?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, as I have already said, the department has cleared its decks and its desks to work on the report the moment that it is received.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, I am glad that we can agree on the matter or urgency. However, do I understand that in a reply given today the Minister said that if we receive the report before the end of July such and such an action might be taken? Does one assume that it is possible that we may not receive the report before the end of July?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I said in my original Answer that we shall receive the report in July.

Lord John-Mackie

My Lords, did I hear the Minister say that the problem was lack of air space rather than airport space? There will never be any more air space but we can build more airports.

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I said that the management of air space is the main cause of congestion and not a lack of runways.

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