Airports: London

Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall Excerpts

Tuesday 4th November 2014 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Kramer]

My Lords, I will go back and ask my department to have conversations with the CAA so that I can give the noble Lord a more complete answer.

[Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall (Lab)]

My Lords, would the noble Baroness—

[Noble Lords]

This side.

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Kramer]

My Lords, Sir Howard Davies’ report will not be ready until the summer of 2015 and it is beyond my telepathic capabilities to anticipate its contents. I cannot answer for the Labour Party.

[Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall]

My Lords, would the noble Baroness agree—

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Kramer]

My Lords, I am sure that everybody would want a major decision such as whether to build a new runway to be made with the best information available. It is important in those circumstances to make sure that the issue has been fully explored. That may be called delay by some. I think that others would say that it helps to inform appropriate decision-making.

[Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall]

My Lords—third time lucky. May I ask the noble Baroness whether she agrees that one of the things that have bedevilled this issue over the past two decades has been delay? Does she believe that when the Davies report is finally published, it will be implemented? I declare an interest as a supporter of the Stop Stansted Expansion campaign. If she looks at that example, she will see the restorative effect of lifting the blight on an airport and the countryside coming back to life.

[Baroness Kramer]

My Lords, Sir Howard Davies identified that there was no immediate capacity requirement; he is looking to 2030. After the report is issued we will all have to look at its contents and then make our decisions on how we will respond.