HC Deb 15 December 2003 vol 415 cc704-6W
Mr. Randall:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has held with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the implications for sustainable development in the areas of construction of a third runway at Heathrow. [143792]

Mr. McNulty:

The Department is liaising with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on all aspects of the forthcoming air transport White Paper.

Mr. Randall:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will arrange for the British Airport Authority's air quality strategy and action plan for Heathrow to be assessed by independent consultants. [143814]

Mr. McNulty:

The three local authorities (Hillingdon, Spelthorne and Hounslow) adjacent to Heathrow have declared Air Quality Management Areas in the vicinity of the airport and are now developing action plans in order to reduce emissions.

The BAA Air Quality Strategy and Action Plan has been developed in consultation with local authorities and will be considered by the authorities in their assessments of future achievement of emissions requirements.

BAA's Air Quality Strategy and Action Plan was published in 2002 and has been in the public domain since then. It is also available on the Internet, http://www.baa.co.uk/main/corporate/publications frame.html.

Many of the actions contained in the strategy are independently assessed (by independent consultants Casella Stanger) through BAA' Heathrow's reporting of performance in its annual sustainability report (see www.baa.coni).

Mr. Randall:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment his Department has made of the need to construct further terminals at Heathrow if a third runway were to be constructed; [143815]

(2) what estimate his Department has made of the effect on capacity on the north runway at Heathrow of aircraft crossing to access the third runway; [143820]

(3) what estimate his Department has made of how long it would take for aircraft to taxi from terminals to the proposed third runway at Heathrow. [143821]

Mr. McNulty:

We have carefully considered all consultation responses on these issues and carried out some further assessment. We will announce the Government's conclusions in the White Paper to be published shortly.

Mr. Randall:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the potential risks from aircraft crossing the northern runway to gain access a proposed third runway at Heathrow. [143822]

Mr. McNulty:

In our assessment of all of the options for new airport capacity, we have taken full account of the need to ensure that all aircraft operations comply with the UK's very high aviation safety standards.

Dr. Tonge:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the need for further terminals at Heathrow airport, if a third runway is approved. [144173]

Mr. McNulty:

We have carefully considered all consultation responses on these issues and carried out some further assessment.

The Government's conclusions on UK airport capacity, including the consideration of development at Heathrow airport, will be set out shortly in the White Paper.

Dr. Tonge:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the number of new areas in London which will be affected by noise pollution if the decision to create a third runway at Heathrow Airport goes ahead. [144180]

Mr. McNulty:

The areas that would be affected are summarized in Chapter 7 of the consultation document "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East, Second Edition",

Investment expenditure
£ million (outturn prices)
1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000
Capital 327 225 414 320 319 210 173 133 171 134
Renewals 87 70 218 159 184 275 198 191 244 208
Total core business 414 295 632 479 503 485 371 324 415 342
Jubilee line extension 40 63 68 261 396 587 660 476 283 655
Cross Rail 5 12 29 45 30 16 4
Total investment 459 370 729 785 929 1,088 1,035 800 698 997

published in February 2003, pages 56 and 57, and supplementary documents which were published in July 2002.

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