§ Mr. Brightasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what the estimated cost of providing the additional roads and rail communications will be for each of the six sites identified by the study group on London's third airport at 1979 prices;
(2) what the estimated cost of building the third London airport will be on the six sites identified by the study group.
§ Mr. TebbitThe study group on South-East airports is presently preparing estimates of these costs. This will be part of the advice on airports policy I expect to receive in the Autumn.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will consult all interested parties when the study group on South-East airports reports in the autumn and before any Government decision is taken.
§ Mr. TebbitIt will be my intention to take into account the views I have already received, and those I expect to receive, before reaching a decision on future airports capacity for the London area.
§ Mr. Brightasked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects a decision to be taken on the site for London's third airport.
§ Mr. TebbitWhen I have received the reports of the advisory committee on airports policy and the study group on South-East airports, decisions on whether a third London airport is required, and if so where it should be located, will be announced as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the time schedule for the preliminary steps leading up to the design and construction of a third London airport.
§ Mr. TebbitThis will depend to some extent on the advice I expect to receive in 597W the autumn, but in any development of a third London airport the objective will be to avoid unnecessary delay.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he proposes to follow the publication of the study group on South-East airports report with a Roskill type inquiry or a planning inquiry commission under the Town and Country Planning Act 1971.
§ Mr. TebbitI shall consider the next steps when I receive the reports of the advisory committee on airports policy and the study group on South-East airports in the Autumn, but I do not envisage an inquiry similar to that undertaken by the Roskill Commission. Planning procedures are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.
§ Mr. Brightasked the Secretary of State for Trade why the study group on London's third airport is not itself studying the Greater London Council's proposals for building the runways at Maplin and the terminal in the London docklands area.
§ Mr. TebbitThe Greater London Council, through the standing conference on London and South-East regional planning, is represented in the study group on South-East airports which is evaluating on a common basis six sites, including Maplin, for a possible new London airport. The GLC has informed the study group that it has appointed consultants to advise the council on certain aspects of a Maplin development.
§ Mr. Brightasked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received from Essex county council in favour of the Maplin site for London's third airport.
§ Mr. TebbitEssex county council, through the standing conference on London and South-East regional planning, is participating in the work of the study group on South-East airports. I have received no representations about Maplin from the county council.