Airports Policy (Hansard, 3 December 1979)

§ Mr. Bright
asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) whether the Study Group on South-East Airports has calculated that 2,000 hectares of agricultural land will be required for the site of a third London airport at the five inland locations reviewed.
(2) whether the Study Group on South-East Airports has recommended the closure of Luton airport if Hoggeston, Langley or Stansted is chosen as the site of London's third airport;
(3) where, other than at Luton airport, the Advisory Committee on Airports Policy estimates that passenger traffic will fall short of the figures envisaged in the 1978 White Paper;
(4) why the passenger capacity of Luton airport, which was estimated to have an upper limit of five million a year in the 1978 White Paper, has been reduced to three million in the report of the Advisory Committee on Airports Policy;
(5) what estimate the Study Group on South-East Airports has made of the cost of constructing an airport to handle 25 million passengers a year at Stanstead; and what estimate it has made of the amount that would have to be spent to expand its handling capacity from this level to 50 million passengers a year;
(6) what assessment the Study Group on South-East Airports has made about the need for a four kilometer road link between Stansted and the M11 south of Bishops Stortford before passenger capacity reaches 25 million a year;
(7) what road improvements the Study Group on South-East Airports considers to be necessary at Stansted within its £35 million estimated expenditure before passenger capacity reaches 25 million a year; and what further improvements the study group envisages to account for the £20 million to be spent on roads as passenger traffic rises from 25 million to 50 million passengers a year in the event of this being the site chose for London's third airport;
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(8) what is the estimate made by he Study Group on South-East Airports at the cost of a rail link between Stansted and the London to Cambridge line on the basis of an airport handling 25 million passengers a year; and how much will need to be spent on this rail link if passenger capacity rises to 50 million a year;
(9) what estimate the Study Group on South-East Airports has made of the cost of constructing an airport handling 25 million passengers a year at Stansted; if the study group has calculated the cost of expansion from this level to a capacity of 50 million passengers a year; and, if so, what the figure was;
(10) what estimate the Study Group on South-East Airports has made of the number of people likely to suffer from noise nuisance if Stansted is chosen as the site of London's third airport by the time its passenger handling capacity reaches 25 million a year; and what estimate it has made of the number affected by the growth of its capacity to 50 million passengers a year;
(11) what estimate the Study Group on South-East Airports has made, in the event of Stansted being chosen as the site of London's third airport, of the number of dwellings covering what area of land that would need to be built by the time the airport handled 25 million passengers a year; and what estimates it has made on a similar basis if its passenger capacity rose to 50 million people a year;
(12) what estimate the Study Group on South-East Airports has made of the numbers of dwellings and the numbers of caravans that would need to be destroyed; and the number of people who would be displaced if a decision to site London's third airport at Stansted should be taken; and if he accepts these estimates;
(13) what were the reasons why the Study Group on South-East Airports concluded that four years will be required for planning purposes and a further four years from the start of construction to opening if a decision should be taken to site London's third airport at Stansted; and if he accepts this estimate;
(14) if he will give the reasons why the Study Group on South-East Airports concluded that the lead time for opening London's third airport at Stansted would 33W be seven years; and how many passengers a year the study group estimated could be handled per year in 10 years' time.

§ Mr. Tebbit
The information sought by my hon. Friend is contained in the reports of the Advisory Committee on Airports Policy and the Study Group on South-East Airports, which will be published shortly. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as they are available.

§ Mr. Bright
asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether the Government intend to take a formal decision on the site of the third London airport without further consultation with interested parties.

UNITED KINGDOM CRUDE BALANCE OF TRADE^*

£ million OTS basis

France Federal Republic of Germany Nether—land Belgium and Luxem—bourg Italy Japan USA EEC(8)

1970 … —28 —47 —79 +95 —6 +14 —242 —80

1971 … —53 —115 —102 +116 —33 —44 —26 —264

1972 … —97 —251 —160 +81 —71 —142 +26 —588

1973 … —301 —561 —307 +159 —125 —172 —112 —1,185

1974 … —425 —877 —648 +107 —215 —252 —475 —2,184

1975 … —457 —704 —755 —26 —243 —363 —532 —2,366

1976 … —374 —920 —934 +108 —277 —436 —622 —2,221

1977 … —528 —1,082 —346 +158 —557 —594 —600 —2,019

1978 … —682 —1,408 —269 +371 —811 —741 —746 —2,481

^*Exports (fob) less imports (cif)

UNITED KINGDOM CRUDE BALANCE OF TRADE^*
£ million OTS basis
		France	Federal Republic of Germany	Nether—land	Belgium and Luxem—bourg	Italy	Japan	USA	EEC(8)
1970	…	—28	—47	—79	+95	—6	+14	—242	—80
1971	…	—53	—115	—102	+116	—33	—44	—26	—264
1972	…	—97	—251	—160	+81	—71	—142	+26	—588
1973	…	—301	—561	—307	+159	—125	—172	—112	—1,185
1974	…	—425	—877	—648	+107	—215	—252	—475	—2,184
1975	…	—457	—704	—755	—26	—243	—363	—532	—2,366
1976	…	—374	—920	—934	+108	—277	—436	—622	—2,221
1977	…	—528	—1,082	—346	+158	—557	—594	—600	—2,019
1978	…	—682	—1,408	—269	+371	—811	—741	—746	—2,481
^*Exports (fob) less imports (cif)