§ Angela SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has approved the terms of reference for the South East and East of England Regional Air Services Study; and how he will ensure consistency in evaluating the demands for, and constraints on, airports and air service development in the South East and East of England Regional Air Services Study. [109353]
§ Mr. MullinI have now approved the final terms of reference for the South East and East of England Regional Air Services Study, taking account of comments received following the consultation on draft terms of reference. Copies will be placed in the House Libraries. They will be circulated to interested parties, and will be on the DETR website.
A consultation paper, "Appraisal Framework for Airports in the South East and Eastern Regions of England" was published today. This paper is about the development of an appraisal framework to be applied to the alternative ways of dealing with future demand for airport capacity in the South East and East of England. Putting a framework in place will mean that schemes to meet or restrain that demand can be compared on a consistent basis.
The consultation paper has been circulated widely. Comments have been invited from transport groups, airport consultative committees, local authorities, environmental organisations and other interested parties and will be considered carefully before the Appraisal Framework is finalised.