Prime Minister David Cameron rules out speeding up south east aviation report
by political editor Paul Francis
The Prime Minister has ruled out bringing forward a major
review of aviation that will recommend where new airports in the
south east could be built.
Mr Cameron rejected a call by Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith for
the government to set out its aviation policy before the next
general election.
The government has commissioned Howard Davies to conduct a
review, but he will not publish his full report until 2015.
An interim report on his provisional findings, which is expected
to outline if options for an estuary airport in Kent are
viable, is due later this year.
That has led to complaints that the government is pushing the
issue into the long grass to avoid a potentially awkward electoral
issue.
Mr Goldsmith, who represents Richmond Park and opposes any
expansion of
Heathrow airport, challenged the Prime Minister over the delay in
the House of Commons yesterday.
"Can the Prime Minister reconcile his recent comments on the
need to accelerate major infrastructure projects with the
government's decision to postpone forming a policy on airports
until after the next general election? Will he reconsider and bring
that review forward?" he said.
In his reply, Mr Cameron (pictured right) said the issue was
complicated and the Davies review would help politicians make a
decision on a cross-party basis.
"Sir Howard Davies says in his review that this is a complicated
issue that merits proper examination, which will take time. We
need, as a country, to make major decisions on airports and airport
capacity.
"We should aim as far as possible to try to make those decisions
on a cross-party basis. I hope the Howard Davies report helps that
to happen."
07/02/13
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