Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish the draft National Policy Statement on the expansion of Heathrow Airport.

I refer the Hon. Member to the oral statement on airport capacity on 25 October 2016: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/airport-capacity. In that statement my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State set out how the announcement fits within the planning process, and the opportunities members of this House have to contribute.

He stated that in the New Year, we will bring forward a draft ‘National policy statement’, which includes the details of the proposed scheme.

As required under legislation, this will be subject to a full and extensive public consultation, followed by a period of Parliamentary scrutiny.

Only once members have voted on the final National Policy Statement and it has been designated will the airport be able to bring forward a detailed planning application.