§ Baroness Hilton of Eggardonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the proposals by Redhill Aerodrome Ventures Ltd to upgrade Redhill Aerodrome from a greenfield site to an international airport would be in breach of Green Belt planning restrictions.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Baroness Denton of Wakefield)The Secretary of State has called in the planning application by Redhill Aerodrome Ventures Ltd for his own determination following a public inquiry. He has indicated that the implications of the proposed development for Green Belt policy constitute a matter which he wishes to be examined at the inquiry. Because of the quasi judicial nature of the Secretary of State's responsibility under the planning legislation it would be inappropriate for us to make any comment on the merits or demerits of the application.