HC Deb 22 May 1996 vol 278 cc230-1W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 19 March,Official Report, column 103, what are the time scale and programme for the BAA investigation into less environmentally damaging options for runway development. [29569]

Mr. Norris

The study of options for a close parallel runway at Gatwick, initiated by BAA in April 1995, is expected to take two to three years to complete. The study is being conducted in three phases, examining in turn the technical feasibility of a close parallel runway, the supporting airport infrastructure that would be required, and finally the impacts of any options which have survived the first two stages.