HC Deb 07 January 2003 vol 397 cc97-8W
Mr. Peter Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the outside consultancy firms which have been appointed to undertake work in connection with his consultation on airport capacity in the South East, together with(a) the tasks assigned and (b) the value of the contracts awarded in each case; and if he will make a statement. [88280]

Mr. Jamieson

The following table lists the organisations that have carried out work on the South East and East of England Regional Air Services (SERAS) Study and have provided advisory support for the Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) consultation. Their areas of expertise are also indicated. The total cost of their work since the SERAS study began in January 2000 is approximately £5 million. This does not include NOP and Avia Solutions, as their costs cannot be broken down by region.

Organisation Area of expertise
Civil Aviation Authority Noise, airspace
Halcrow Fox SERAS managing consultants, wide range of appraisal work
Ove Arup & Partners Airport optioneering, land use and urbanisation
AEA Technology Air quality
Scott Wilson New airport site search, environmental appraisal
QinetiQ Climate change
Crown Business Communications Event management
Avia Solutions Response analysis
NOP Questionnaire analysis
NATS Air traffic control
Booz Allen Hamilton New south east airport: airline development

John McDonnell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many people have responded to his consultation on the future of airport capacity in the south-east in the form of(a) petitions, (b) letters, (c) questionnaires and (d) detailed submissions; [88493]

(2) if he will make a statement on the level of response which he has had to his consultation on airport capacity in the south-east. [88494]

Mr. Jamieson

By 18 December, for the south-east region, 33 petitions, over 25,000 letters (including a number of detailed submissions from both members of the public and organisations), and 11,000 completed NOP questionnaires in response to the consultation had been received.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport announced to Parliament on 28 November that the consultation on airports capacity will be kept open until we have consulted on options for new runways in relation to Gatwick. We aim to publish a further consultation document shortly.