§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is towards the predict and provide approach to airport provision in the south-east of England. [159250]
Mr. Robert AinsworthOur policy is one of sustainable development, applying the principles set out in the New Deal for Transport White Paper (Cm 3950) to airports in all parts of the United Kingdom. We are currently studying a wide range of options for the future development of airports in the south-east of England. When we announced this study, we said that it would assess the economic, environmental and social impacts of the options, and that we would balance all these before636W coming to a view about whether additional capacity should be provided, either at a particular site or at all. This remains our position.