§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans Her Majesty's Government have to secure the provision of extra runway space in the South-East of England. [85876]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonOn 11 March 1999,Official Report, columns 360–61, we announced our decision to undertake a study of airport issues in the South-East and East of Egland. That study will consider future policies for these airports within the framework of the Government's sustainable development principles. It will, among other things, consider whether new runway capacity in the region might be justified, having regard to social, environmental and economic considerations.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will ask the airport co-ordinator with responsibility for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted to make a statement on runway constraints. [85878]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Airport Co-ordinator is not the appropriate person to make such a statement. The capacity of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted is assessed twice a year, for the summer and winter operating seasons, by the airport operator, in consultation with airport users, air traffic control and the airport co-ordinator. Maximising use of runway capacity may be constrained by airspace availability, terminal capacity, and aircraft stand availability. The assessment is then used by the airport co-ordinator when he comes to allocate take off and landing slots for the season.