§ Mr. Haselhurstasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what administrative arrangements have been made for reaching a decision on the proposals to develop a third London airport at Stansted.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and I expect to receive copies of the inspector's report in the early summer. However, because my home, where I and my family have lived for some years, is only 6 miles from Stansted I have concluded that it would be wrong for me to be personally involved in the matter. With the approval of the Prime Minister, therefore, I am making special arrangements for the handling of the case in my Department. My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction will oversee all departmental aspects of the case, and will act for me in the decision-making process. Legally and constitutionally the decision will be mine and that of the Secretary of State for Transport. This statement is to make clear that, to avoid any risk of it appearing that the existence of a possible conflict of interest could affect the176W consideration of the issues, I shall take no personal part in the processes leading up to the announcement of a decision.