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15 Oct 2002 : Column 724W—continued

West Midlands Airport

Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the grid references of the site identified to the South East of Worcester as a possible site for a new West Midlands airport. [74752]

Mr. Spellar: The Government is not putting forward for consultation any option for a new airport site in the Midlands other than that located between Rugby and Coventry, as detailed in ''The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: Midlands'' consultation document.

The Government, having identified a potential need to develop further airport capacity in the Midlands over the next 30 years, had earlier appraised a number of locations throughout the Midlands against a range of criteria in a five stage process. Details of this process are available in the document ''Preliminary Site Search of Options for New Airport Capacity to Serve the Midlands'' and its appendices which can be found on the Department for Transport's website www.airconsult.gov.uk. The result of this process was that the option of a new site between Rugby and Coventry, and no other site in the Midlands, should be included in the consultation.

Airports (Scotland)

Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will include in his consultation on airports a proposal for an international air transport hub in Scotland. [73722]

Mr. Jamieson: The Government's Consultation Document, ''The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: Scotland'' seeks views on a number of important aspects of air services within Scotland including a niche hub serving Scotland and the future development of airports.

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Severnside International Airport

Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that the proposed Severnside International Airport will not be subject to consultation as a possible new airport. [74053]

Mr. Jamieson: Developers have prepared a proposal for a new single runway airport set in the Severn Estuary (Severnside). Our analysis suggests that a new airport there would only be viable if Cardiff or Bristol airport, or both, were to close or become congested to the point of capacity. Our forecasts under all scenarios indicate that this is unlikely to occur within the forecasting period. With the investment required to establish such a facility and with spare capacity available at Cardiff over the next 30 year period it is unlikely to be commercially viable in its own right and could only be considered as an option, if at all, for other policy reasons.

The Government will set out their conclusions in next year's White Paper on air transport. This White Paper will be informed by the current consultation on the future development of air transport in the United Kingdom.

Cliffe Airport

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Department has to consult local residents in Southend, West on Cliffe Airport. [74511]

Mr. Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) consultation document was published on 23 July 2002. We recognise the importance of taking into account, and seeking to balance appropriately, the views of all interested parties before coming to the decisions which will be set out in the air transport White Paper.

To support the consultation process the Department for Transport has arranged a series of public exhibitions. To date exhibitions on the Cliffe airport option have been held at Basildon, Chatham and in two locations on the Hoo peninsula. I am also aware that a wide range of stakeholders have, or are in the process of, arranging events and meetings about this option. All responses to this consultation are welcome.

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations his Department has held with Southend Borough Council with regard to the new airport at Cliffe. [74508]

Mr. Jamieson: Prior to publication of the Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) consultation document on 23 July 2002 no discussions were held with Southend Borough Council, or any other local authority, regarding any of the airport development options.

Since publication we have been consulting with all those with an interest in any of the options, including local authorities.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether the Cliffe airport option cross-wind runway flight path would over-fly (a) Canvey Island and (b) Hadleigh; [74073]

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(2) how often he estimates use would be made of the Cliffe airport option cross-wind runway if that option is adopted; [74070]

(3) if he plans to permit night use of the Cliffe airport option cross-wind runway; [74063]

(4) what his policy is on the fifth runway, with a flight path over Canvey Island and Leigh on Sea, included in the Cliffe Airport proposal. [74294]

Mr. Jamieson: Paragraph 11.4 of the The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) main consultation document makes clear that the option of a fifth runway to reduce night-time noise impacts was appraised.

This runway was considered for use only by night-time arrivals from the South-West, to avoid overflying towns such as Gravesend and Tilbury. The results of this analysis is presented in the SERAS Stage Two Appraisal Findings report, paragraphs 11.8.7 to 11.8.10. These suggest that, for movements other than arrivals from the South West, the night-time noise impacts would be minimised by using a combination of the parallel runways. Therefore overflying of neither Canvey Island nor Hadleigh is envisaged.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new rail links he plans for the proposed Cliffe airport option. [73520]

Mr. Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) main consultation document indicates in paragraphs 11.7 to 11.10 the type and scale of rail infrastructure that would be needed to connect the Cliffe airport option to the wider rail network.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the additional houses needed under the Cliffe airport option is over and above the targets for new house building set the Government for South Essex and North Kent. [74074]

Mr. Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) consultation document sets out in paragraph 11.29 that if the scale of housing development indicated in Regional Planning Guidance were rolled forward to 2030, it is considered likely that the airport employment needs could be met with fairly limited additional housing development.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will issue his white paper on airport capacity in the South East. [74296]

Mr. Jamieson: When the current consultation exercise is concluded at the end of November this year, the Secretary of State will consider all responses before taking decisions in the air transport White Paper which we plan to publish as early as possible next year.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport at what stage the road link between the A130 Benfleet and the Cliffe airport option would be built if that option goes ahead. [74072]

Mr. Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) consultation document makes clear in paragraph 11.13

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that as the airport grows a second road crossing of the Thames to the A13/A130 at Benfleet could, in time, give better access to the labour market north of the Thames. At this stage, we have not attempted to identify precisely when such a link might be needed.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport at what point he estimates the proposed Benfleet Tunnel Crossing, connecting Essex with the possible Cliffe airport, will go underground (a) on the mainland near Sadlers Farm, (b) on North Canvey near Waterside Farm and (c) on South Canvey near Thorney Bay. [73571]

Mr. Jamieson: The South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) analysis has not attempted to identify the location and design of highway connections for either the Cliffe option or any of the published options.

As is made clear in The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) consultation document (paragraph 11.13), a second road crossing of the Thames to the A13/A130 at Benfleet could, in time, be needed to give better access to the labour market north of the Thames.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport where the rail connection between the Tilbury Southend line and the possible Cliffe airport option would be sited. [74071]

Mr. Jamieson: The South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) analysis has not attempted to identify the location and design of rail connections for either the Cliffe option or any of the published options.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the shortest distance is from the outer edge of the Cliffe airport option to each of the nearest communities. [74077]

Mr. Jamieson: Plan 11.5 in the South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) Stage two Appraisal Findings (figures—chapter 11—Cliffe Marshes airport) gives a clear indication of the proximity of local communities to the published option.

At this stage the location and scale of this, and all other published options, should be considered as indicative only. If any option is favoured in the air transport White Paper more detailed design and project definition will be required.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are for a new Thames road and rail crossing as part of the Cliffe airport option strategic infrastructure development. [73518]

Mr. Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) consultation document sets out in paragraph 11.8 that a multi-modal (road and rail) Thames Crossing is assumed to be in place to support Cliffe airport option. This link might be progressed irrespective of whether a new airport is built at Cliffe.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the species of birds and other wildlife that would be adversely affected by the Cliffe airport option. [74076]

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Mr. Jamieson: As part of the South East and East of England Regional Airports study (SERAS), an appraisal was made of direct and indirect effects arising from habitat loss, damage or disturbance to species and habitats arising from the construction, presence and operation of the proposed new airport option. This included an initial assessment of the impacts on birds and other wildlife. A summary of the methodology adopted is outlined in the SERAS stage two appraisal findings report (section 6.7). A more detailed statement is contained in Environmental Appraisal Groups 2 and 3 report. This also contains the detailed assessments relevant to the Cliffe option.

Specific to the Cliffe option, a preliminary assessment was made of the risk of birds colliding with aircraft. Details of this work are contained in the North Kent Marshes Ecological study Phase 1. Copies of all the above reports are available in the House libraries.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimate he has made of the impact of the Cliffe Airport proposal on (a) flood risks, (b) sea defences and (c) ground water levels for (i) Essex and (ii) Canvey Island; and on what (A) evidence and (B) studies and models his estimates are based; [74295]

(2) what analysis he has made of the change in flooding risk to Canvey Island and Benfleet, if the Cliffe airport platform is built in the Thames. [74069]

Mr. Jamieson: No specific analysis has been undertaken into the change in flooding risk to Canvey Island and Benfleet if the Cliffe airport option were to go ahead. If the Cliffe option were supported in the air transport White Paper, more detailed work into both the risk of flooding in the wider area and the measures required to counteract such a risk would be needed.

A summary of the appraisal methodology regarding the water environment is outlined in the SERAS stage two appraisal findings report (section 6.8). The results of this appraisal, relevant to the Cliffe option, are summarised in the South East airports consultation document (11.19–11.22) and shown in paragraphs 11.7.1 to 11.7.12 of the SERAS stage two appraisal findings report. Copies of all these reports are available in the Libraries of the House.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the estimated time scale for the planning, building and commissioning of the Cliffe airport option. [73517]

Mr. Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) main consultation document sets out on page 143 the key appraisal assumptions used in the analysis. The first new runway of any option (or the first two at Cliffe) was assumed to be open in 2011. Cliffe's third and fourth runways were assumed to be open in 2021.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what controls would be necessary to protect the Cliffe airport from birds; and what the (a) range and (b) extent of these controls is. [74075]

Mr. Jamieson: The North Kent Marshes Ecological Study (phase 1 report), one of the South East and East of England Regional Air Services study supporting

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reports, included a preliminary assessment of the risk of birds colliding with aircraft. This also included an overview of potential mitigation measures.

The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) consultation document makes clear in paragraph 11.18 that the Department for Transport would commission further research to assess fully the risk and the best mitigating measures. This work is now underway and will be used to inform Ministers' decisions.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in which constituencies the 162,000 additional houses required by the Cliffe airport option would be built. [74065]

Mr. Jamieson: The South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) identified, in broad terms, the scale of housing required, and urbanisation impacts, of all airport options. If any option is supported in the proposed air transport White Paper, the detailed urbanisation implications would need to be considered through the land-use planning system.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what strategic road infrastructure he plans as part of the proposed Cliffe airport option; and if this would form part of a new outer M25 project; [73519]

(2) if the proposed Benfleet tunnel crossing, associated with the Cliffe airport option, would be part of an outer M25 infrastructure; and if he will make a statement. [73715]

Mr. Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) main consultation document indicates in paragraphs 11.11 to 11.13 the type of road infrastructure that would be needed both to connect the Cliffe airport option to the strategic network and the type and scale of improvements that might be required on the strategic network as a result of the construction of an airport at Cliffe (if that were to go ahead). The airports study did not consider any broader highway issues.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the spoil from the Shellhaven port Thames dredging operations will be used to build up the platform needed for the full four-runway airport in the Cliffe option. [74064]

Mr. Jamieson: The South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) analysis has not attempted to identify construction impacts to this level of detail. The appraisal methodology regarding construction impacts is contained in SERAS Stage 2 Methodology report (section 7.8).

The results of this appraisal, relevant to the Cliffe option, are shown in the SERAS Stage 2 Appraisal Summary tables (table 11.13).

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what models have been tested to predict the changes in (a) ground water and flood levels and (b) hydrographic flaws, around and in Canvey Island and Benfleet, resulting from the Cliffe airport option. [74068]

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Mr. Jamieson: No models have been used in the South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) analysis to predict changes in either ground water and flood levels or hydrographic flaws. A summary of the appraisal methodology regarding the water environment is outlined in the SERAS stage two appraisal findings report (section 6.8).

The results of this appraisal, relevant to the Cliffe option, are summarised in the South East airports consultation document (11.19–11.22) and shown in paragraphs 11.7.1 to 11.7.12 of the SERAS stage two appraisal findings report. Copies of all the above reports are available in the House libraries.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many lanes he expects the proposed Benfleet Tunnel crossing, associated with the Cliffe airport option, would have in each direction. [73570]

Mr. Jamieson: At this stage we have not attempted to identify details of either when such a scheme might be needed or the design and project definition.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will identify the previously developed land that would be used to provide additional housing in the event of the Cliffe airport option being adopted. [74067]

Mr. Jamieson: The South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) identified, in broad terms, the scale of housing required, and urbanisation impacts, of all airport options. If any option is supported in the proposed air transport White Paper, the detailed housing implications would need to be considered through the land-use planning system.

A more detailed assessment of the housing implications specific to the Cliffe airport option is set out in the SERAS Land Use and Urbanisation study (section A7). Copies of all the above reports are available in the House libraries.

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