§ Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for Trade on what dates the Advisory Committee on Airports Policy visited Gwent to study the Severnside international gateway airport proposals; and how many members of the advisory committee participated on each date.
§ Mr. Sproat:The Advisory Committee on Airports Policy did not visit any airport sites.
§ Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will commission a feasibility study by independent consultants of the offshore Severnside United Kingdom international gateway airport proposal; and if he will ensure that no major developments at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports are approved prior to the completion of such a study.
§ Mr. Sproat:No. Gwent county council has recently made a submission to the Stansted inspector proposing the development of an airport on Severnside as an alternative to the expansion of Stansted airport. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Trade and for the Environment will take careful note of the inspector's conclusions and recommendations on this and any other relevant matters before reaching a decision on the Stansted proposals, but they do not intend to hold back any developments at Heathrow or Gatwick which have already been approved.