§ 129 Kingsway, London, W.C.2B 6NN
§ 6 February, 1973.
§ Dear Michael,
§ We spoke this afternoon about Thursday's debate on the Maplin Bill, and you asked me for the Authority's advice about the project.
§ The Authority has not given corporate consideration to the merits of the Maplin project as we have taken the view that this was a Government decision taken before the Authority came into existence. We have confined ourselves to considering ways of helping to ensure that the project is carried out as efficiently as possible from the aviation angle.
§ To give an authoritative view we should need some weeks to consider the matter. What I am saying now can only be taken as a preliminary view, subject to modification if necessary in the light of later consideration.
§ We have in hand as you may know a study with BAA, and the airlines to assess traffic growth in the London area; results should be available by the beginning of April. It is, however, our view from the material at present available to us that additional airport capacity will be needed in the London area probably by or soon after 1980, with a subsequent need for more than one runway some five years thereafter.
§ From the aviation point of view this additional capacity could with advantage be found by increased use and development of the existing London airports. It is of course for the Government to decide whether other considerations such as noise offset the disadvantages to aviation and the additional cost of providing this capacity at a new airport. In making this judgment, Ministers will no doubt take account of possible developments of quieter aircraft. Our assessment takes account of the recent development and the likely growth in the use of wide bodied jets and the effect this has on aircraft movement rates. Regional airport developments, necessary though they may be for the areas which they will serve, will not so materially affect the growth of traffic needing to be catered for in the London area as significantly to modify the view I have expressed above.
§ If we can give you any more assistance, we are at your disposal.
§ Yours ever,
§ (Sgnd.) John.
§ Michael Heseltine Esq. M.P.,
§ Minister for Aerospace and Shipping,
§ Department of Trade and Industry,
§ 1 Victoria Street, London, S.W.1H 0ET.
§ House adjourned at ten minutes before five o'clock.