HC Deb 11 January 2002 vol 377 cc1061-2W
Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what preliminary findings from the South East Regional Air Services Study will be made available to county councils in the region in time for them to be taken into account when producing their drafts for county structure plans. [26084]

Mr. Jamieson

During the study, we are not going to make any comment on the options under consideration—that would be premature, would spread unnecessary concern and blight and would undermine the consultation process.

We expect the study to be completed shortly. This will be followed by full public consultation on the short-listed options, currently scheduled for spring 2002. Decisions made following the consultation will feed into an Air Transport White Paper which we aim to publish in the second half of the year.

The West Sussex structure plan 2001–2016, currently on deposit, makes clear that the Structure Plan will not be able to take account of the SERAS study outcomes

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he anticipates the completion of the South East Regional Air Services Study; if its findings will be published in full; and how it will be made available to the public. [26083]

Mr. Jamieson

The South East and East of England Regional Air Services Study (SERAS) is nearing completion. This will be followed by full public consultation on the short-listed options for airport development.

During the consultation period, we intend to make the study findings accessible to the public in hard copy and on CD.