§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Horsham of 3 November 2003,Official Report, 437W column 391W, on Gatwick airport, whether the net economic benefit quoted takes into account externalities, with particular reference to environmental damage. [138580]
§ Mr. McNultyThe net economic benefits estimated for Gatwick and other south east airport options take into account the externalities associated with aviation's climate change impacts. In producing calculations of economic benefits of additional capacity at all south east airport options, it was assumed that by 2015 an economic instrument would be in place to meet the climate change impact of aircraft emissions. This has the effect of reducing forecast passenger numbers by 10 per cent. and reducing the net economic benefits of all the capacity options.