HC Deb 22 November 1967 vol 754 cc333-5W
46. Sir D. Walker-Smith

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether having regard to the considerations specified in paragraph 37 of the Report of the South-East Economic Planning Council, he will now rescind the Government's decision to site the third London airport at Stansted.

Mr. Crosland

No. These considerations were taken into account when the Government came to its decision.

96. Mr. Onslow

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has formed of the gross cost of realigning the runways at Stansted Airport; and what savings are expected to offset this.

Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

Estimates at this stage are necessarily very tentative. The B.A.A. consider that the total cost of one new runway on a new alignment at Stansted, together with associated works, might be about £10 million-£13 million. From this must be deducted an expenditure of about £3 million on the existing runway that would be necessary to bring it up to the same standard were it not to be replaced.

97. Mr. Onslow

asked the President of the Board of Trade what increase or decrease in the total acreage required for Stansted Airport will result from the realignment of the runways.

Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

Alternative runway alignments and positions are still under consideration and it is therefore too early to attempt to answer this Question.

Mr. Onslow

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what distances are proposed between the ends of the existing runway and ends of the nearer of the two new runways to be constructed at Stansted Airport;

(2) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the extent to which he expects the usability of the realigned Stansted Airport to be effected by crosswind, as compared with the ten busiest international airports in north-west Europe;

(3) whether the existing runway at Stansted Airport will be able to remain in use after two new runways have been constructed on a different alignment; and for how long.

Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

Alternative runway alignments and positions are still under consideration and it is therefore too early to attempt to answer these Questions.