HL Deb 28 November 2002 vol 641 c65WA
Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether a new airport for 64 million passengers per year, sited in Warwickshire, would automatically be designated under Section 80 for the purposes of Section 78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 in order to impose restrictions on night flying from any such airport. [HL248]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

No. However, decisions on the siting of any additional airport capacity resulting from the current consultation exercise will be based upon an expectation that appropriate controls will be established to protect communities. If such an airport were to be constructed, it would be possible to stipulate restrictions on night flying under existing planning legislation. A decision on whether to designate the airport would be taken in the light of all relevant circumstances.

An environmental impact assessment would be required for the new airport option included in the consultation document for the Midlands region.

Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, if a new airport to handle 64 million passengers per year is built in Warwickshire, local authorities downstream of the existing flood plain which the airport will cover will be indemnified against flooding; and, if so, by whom. [HL249]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

In the light of the current consultation on air transport, we will set out in next year's White Paper our policies on how much airport development is necessary, where this should be located and on what main terms and conditions such development could be taken forward. Many important issues of detail, including the impact on the water environment, will be for later determination.