§ Mr. RentonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the distinctions drawn by his Department between(a) a second runway at Gatwick and (b) a close parallel runway at Gatwick; and what factors cause (a) to be ruled out and (b) not be ruled out by the existing legal agreement between the British Airports Authority and West Sussex county council.
§ Mr. NorrisMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's answer of 2 February,Official Report, column 861–62, to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) said that the options studied by RUCATSE for a second runway at Gatwick should not be considered further. These options were for full runways, located well away from the existing runway. A close parallel runway would deliver a smaller gain in runway capacity, but would also have less widespread environmental impacts. I understand that the existing legal agreement between BAA and West Sussex county council applies to any additional runway at Gatwick.
§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make publicly available the results of public consultation referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) on 2 February,Official Report, column 861–62 concerning runway capacity in the South-East.
§ Dr. MawhinneyMy Department has recorded some 350 responses from organisations and some 4,100 letters from members of the public. A number of petitions were also received.