§ Mr. Wickendenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will call in planning applications by the British Airports Authority for the construction at Gatwick of a second passenger terminal, an emergency runway and a new maintenance area; and whether he will ensure that at the consequent public inquiry the terms of reference will be sufficiently wide to enable consideration to be given not only to the effects of such developments in the environment of Surrey and Sussex but also whether this expansion should take place at Gatwick or elsewhere.
§ Mr. HeseltineI have now called in the planning applications relating to the provision of a second passenger terminal and a new maintenance-cargo area at Gatwick. I have told the local planning authority that it may proceed with consideration of the application relating to the provision of an emergency runway. The scope of the public inquiry into the two called-in applications will be wide 697W enough to cover all relevant planning considerations, including that mentioned by my hon. Friend. I aim for the inquiry to start in the early autumn.