§ Lord Brabazon of Taraasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have received the report of the working group on runway capacity for the South East.
The Earl of CaithnessWe have received the report. It is a thorough and useful piece of work which will help set the framework for an informed debate on this important subject. The report deals with the issue of the possible need for more runway capacity in the South East; the timing of that need; and sets out the advantages and disadvantages of development at a number of sites. It makes no recommendations about which site should be developed.
A feature of the working group was its particularly wide ranging membership. Local area representatives, environmental groups and the air transport industry have all been associated with the analysis set out in the report. We are sure that this diversity will make the 55WA report all the more useful. We therefore want to thank all those involved for the time and energy they have devoted to the work.
We are today putting a copy of the report in the Library.
Given the importance of the subject, we will attach particular weight to the consultation process which begins today. We invite all those with an interest in the subject to let the Department of Transport know their views on the issues raised in this report by the end of May 1994.