HC Deb 23 October 2003 vol 411 c675W
John McDonnell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to make planning decisions involving airport capacity, before he has decided how to tackle long term environmental damage consequent on them. [133333]

Mr. McNulty

The air transport White Paper will not take planning decisions, but will set out a long term framework of Government policy for airport development and seek to maximize the beneficial aspects of aviation and minimize the negative effects. In deciding on policies on new airport capacity, we will take account of the environmental impacts and consider measures to control and mitigate those impacts.