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| Heathrow third runway: Select committee urges action | Heathrow third runway: Select committee urges action |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The government must stop putting off the "difficult" decision to expand Heathrow Airport rather than Gatwick, a Commons select committee has said. | The government must stop putting off the "difficult" decision to expand Heathrow Airport rather than Gatwick, a Commons select committee has said. |
| The arguments over increasing aviation capacity in South East England have "changed little in a quarter of a century", said the Transport Committee. | The arguments over increasing aviation capacity in South East England have "changed little in a quarter of a century", said the Transport Committee. |
| It urged ministers to end "years of political dithering" and to set out a clear timetable. | It urged ministers to end "years of political dithering" and to set out a clear timetable. |
| The government said it was important to get the decision right. | The government said it was important to get the decision right. |
| In December the Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed that the Airport Commission's shortlisted options - new runways at Heathrow or Gatwick, or extension of an existing runway at Heathrow - were "viable". | In December the Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed that the Airport Commission's shortlisted options - new runways at Heathrow or Gatwick, or extension of an existing runway at Heathrow - were "viable". |
| It also announced further work on noise, pollution and compensation would be carried out before it made a decision on which project to support. It expects this will be completed by the summer. | It also announced further work on noise, pollution and compensation would be carried out before it made a decision on which project to support. It expects this will be completed by the summer. |
| But the Transport Select Committee said government indecision had created "uncertainty" that would ultimately lead to "lost growth and jobs". | But the Transport Select Committee said government indecision had created "uncertainty" that would ultimately lead to "lost growth and jobs". |
| Labour MP Louise Ellman, chairwoman of the committee, said: "The government must make up its mind. The decision on location is not the end of the process, it is the start of one. | |
| "Real progress cannot begin until the location is declared. Work on environmental issues can run in parallel with other pre-construction work." | "Real progress cannot begin until the location is declared. Work on environmental issues can run in parallel with other pre-construction work." |
| She said more than 50 new runways were being planned around the world and "the months ticking by constitute time wasted for the UK's economic prosperity". | She said more than 50 new runways were being planned around the world and "the months ticking by constitute time wasted for the UK's economic prosperity". |
| A DfT spokesman said: "The case for aviation expansion is clear, but it's vitally important we get the decision right so that it will benefit generations to come." | A DfT spokesman said: "The case for aviation expansion is clear, but it's vitally important we get the decision right so that it will benefit generations to come." |