§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additions or improvements to the motorway system will be needed to cater for traffic using the proposed fifth terminal at Heathrow.
§ Mr. MacGregorA number of schemes to improve the M25 and M4 in the vicinity of Heathrow are already in the national road programme and these will be needed whether or not a fifth terminal is to be built at Heathrow. In addition road access to the proposed fifth terminal would require a dedicated spur from the M25, and widening and junction improvements on the M4 between its junction 3 and the M25. I am adding schemes for these improvements to the programme so that the details of the road and traffic implications of a new terminal at Heathrow can be developed and considered alongside the planning application. I must stress that most of these further improvements will be needed only if the proposal for terminal 5 receives consent. We have reached agreement with the British Airports Authority on appropriate funding arrangements.