§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated cost is of the plans to add a new airport and increase the number of runways in the UK. [73728]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe series of consultation documents,The Future of Air Transport in the United Kingdom, published on 23 July 2002 set out a number of possible options for new airport capacity including a new airport near Cliffe in North Kent and other options for additional runways at existing south east airports, options in the Midlands for an additional runway at Birmingham and East Midlands airports or a possible a new airport (to replace Birmingham), and an option for a new runway at either Glasgow or Edinburgh airport. The estimated capital costs of each option (£ billion in 722W today's prices), including where relevant the airport's share of associated road and rail access improvements, are:
Number Cliffe 11.5 Heathrow (one new runway) 4 Stansted (one, two or three new runways) 4–8 Birmingham 0.7–1.3 East Midlands 1.2 Midlands new site 6.9 Edinburgh 0.4 Glasgow 0.7 Not all these options would go forward, as many of them are alternatives. The purpose of the consultation process is to establish how much airport capacity is needed up to 2030 and where any new capacity should be located.