§ Lord Sefton of Garstonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are prepared to give an assurance that, before any decision is finally taken following the Stansted Airport Inquiry, an opportunity will be given to both Houses of Parliament to debate the matter.
§ Lord CockfieldI could not, I am afraid, give such an assurance. Airports policy has already been debated on a number of occasions. As was announced in the debate on 14th February 1980, the BAA's planning application to build a new terminal and related facilities at Stansted is being considered under the appropriate statutory planning procedures, which include the current wide-ranging public inquiry. The inspector is hearing a very wide range of evidence both on the implications of such a development and on a number of proposed alternatives such as the development of a fifth terminal at Heathrow for which a planning application has been submitted by Uttlesford D.C. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I will reach a final decision only after the most careful study of the inspector's report and the evidence laid before him.