§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received on runway capacity at airports in the South of England; and if he will make a statement. [84561]
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§ Ms Glenda JacksonWe receive a steady flow of correspondence from various organisations and members of the public, directly or indirectly relating to runway capacity at airports in the South of England. In its Eighth Report on Regional Air Services, published on 27 July 1998, the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee of the House of Commons, stated that
The Government must address the question of capacity in the South-East as a matter of urgency".On 11 March 1999, Official Report, columns 360–61, we announced our decision to set in hand a study of airports issues in the South-East of England and the East of England. This study will consider future policies for these airports within the framework of the Government's sustainable development principles. The study will examine a wide range of options and, in accordance with the new approach to appraisal set out in the New Deal for Transport White Paper, will appraise their economic, environmental and social implications. The study will consider both terminal and runway capacity. Following completion of the study, there will be public consultation on options arising from this work. The results of the airport studies will be incorporated in a White Paper on UK airports policy looking some 30 years ahead. The White Paper will also reflect the Government's decisions in response to the Inspector's report on the Heathrow Terminal 5 Inquiry.