Examination of Witnesses (Questions 8400
- 8419)
8400. MR ELVIN: That, of course, we will
provide.
8401. This matter has come not entirely as a
surprise, but certainly the level of interest that has been shown
in this has come as something of a surprise given that the issue
did not trouble the Select Committee below too much.
8402. Your Lordships, I suspect, will need a
little bit more information. This has been the subject of considerable
debate behind the scenes for some years, and I would urge on your
Lordships the opportunity at least to see some correspondence
and some more background information. I do not suggest for a moment
that it lies outside the remit of the Committee to make a recommendation
or a suggestion; I merely urge caution at the moment because I
am concerned that you ought to have some more information before
you go down that route so that you are better informed.
8403. CHAIRMAN: Mr Berryman?
(Mr Berryman) I do just want to make a
point to Lord Snape, if I may. Although there is no connection
made to the west from Terminal 5, they did build new railway tunnels
for the Heathrow Express and the Piccadilly line from the central
area of the airport and they cost at least as much as the road
connection being made to the M4. So, although the economics are
slightly different, that connection was still made, and I think
BAA might well argue that they had spent a considerable amount
of money on improving rail connections to Terminal 5.
8404. LORD SNAPE: Indeed, I am sure they
argued on that basis. On the other hand, I hope I am not alone
or being unduly controversial in saying that major transport decisions
about the future of the world's busiest international airport
ought to be made on a national basis rather than the commercial
interest, or otherwise, of BAA.
8405. BARONESS FOOKES: Lord Chairman,
could I also point out that for many years I was an MP for one
of the Plymouth seats, and what we have heard this afternoon rather
reflects the feeling you get in the West Country that their interests
are always the last to be considered compared with the metropolitan
south-east. I simply put that into the melting pot.
8406. CHAIRMAN: Mr Elvin, if we are going
to come to a decision about this how are you going to get the
material that you have been talking about in front of us?
8407. MR ELVIN: BAA are scheduled for
an appearance next week, and I would suggest I put it in for that
occasion and you can ask questions of BAA as well, if that is
appropriate.
8408. CHAIRMAN: I want to make certain
that the Petitioners who put forward these points have an opportunity
to find out what happens, because it is no use our just making
recommendations about something without the evidentiary basis
and without giving other people an opportunity to comment on it.
8409. MR ELVIN: I am sure we can make
sure Mr Francis is copied in on that material. As far as I can
see it is material that was before the House of Commons, where
Mr Francis also appeared, but I will certainly make sure he is
copied on in on any additional material we provide here.
8410. Can I make it clear in response to my
Lord, Lord Snape's point that there is no suggestion that this
is not a matter that is not decided on a national basis. The T5
inquiry was done on precisely that basis.
8411. LORD SNAPE: Indeed, and took a
considerable time. I am sure Mr Taylor's eminently reasonable
disbursements as a result of that inquiry --
8412. MR ELVIN: I think Mr Taylor's view
is his disbursements were too reasonable!
8413. LORD SNAPE: May I record the sympathy
of the Committee on his behalf!
8414. LORD YOUNG OF NORWOOD GREEN: On
that lack of information, will that include the land owners?
8415. MR ELVIN: I do not know whether
we can do that in time, my Lord. It was simply a concern that
sprang to mind with the possibility of safeguarding the implications
that that has. There would be ways and means of dealing with that,
but I will see what information we can provide in the time available.
8416. Can I also say with regard to my Lord,
Lord Colville's question about a response to each of the individual
sites, we can have a note prepared before the end of the week
which I will make sure Mr Francis gets which will effectively
reflect what is in the PRD. The PRD goes through it site by site,
but I am quite happy to provide a short summary in the form of
a note which we will supply to the Committee this week.
8417. CHAIRMAN: I think that is probably
as far as we can take it, but we will be returning to this and
I think we need to make absolutely sure we have all the necessary
information before us.
The Petition of Association of Train Operating
Companies (ATOC)
8418. MR ELVIN: Absolutely. Thank you.
8419. CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much.
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