For Immediate Release: Tuesday 16/12/03

MP WELCOMES NO IMMEDIATE 3^rd RUNWAY AT HEATHROW

The Secretary of State for Transport, Alastair Darling, today announced to the House of Commons that the government had decided that there would be no third runway in the immediate future because of the doubt about achieving the minimum air quality standards at Heathrow.

Both Hounslow MPs, Ann & Alan Keen, had met with Alastair Darling to put the case against the third runway. Ann, with a group of protestors, took a petition to 10 Downing Street two weeks ago.

In parliament today, Alan Keen thanked the government and the Secretary of State for engaging in a consultation and planning exercise. He reminded the House that the previous Conservative government appeared to have no air transport policy and that it was an initiative from BAA to request planning permission for T5, with no prior consultation or involvement by government.

Alan Keen said:

"I also asked Alastair Darling that, if there was to be an attempt to gain additional runway capacity by mixed mode, it was essential that he consulted carefully and that it was unacceptable to allow planes to take off to the east on the northern runway.

The Secretary of State promised that full consultation would take place and that he was aware of the Cranford Agreement."

-ends-

Notes to Editor: The Government’s White Paper on ‘The Future of Air Transport’ was published earlier today.