This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/7504975.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Heathrow 'could get third runway' Heathrow 'could get third runway'
(20 minutes later)
Heathrow Airport could get a third runway, a minister has indicated.Heathrow Airport could get a third runway, a minister has indicated.
The government is due to make a decision on the future development of the UK's largest airport by the end of the year.The government is due to make a decision on the future development of the UK's largest airport by the end of the year.
Business secretary John Hutton, said at the Farnborough airshow that the government might take "difficult decisions on airport expansion". Business secretary John Hutton said at the Farnborough airshow that the government might take "difficult decisions on airport expansion".
Green groups have been opposed to plans to expand the west London airport, including a proposed third runway.Green groups have been opposed to plans to expand the west London airport, including a proposed third runway.
Mr Hutton said the government could not shirk its "responsibility to do what's right because we wanted an easy ride from green lobby groups". Speaking at the opening of the airshow Mr Hutton said: "British businesses, and ultimately the British people, would not forgive us if we shirked our responsibility to do what's right because we wanted an easy ride from green lobby groups.
Speaking at the opening of the the airshow Mr Hutton said: "British businesses, and ultimately the British people, would not forgive us if we shirked our responsibility to do what's right because we wanted an easy ride from green lobby groups. We will help make flying greener rather than restricting people's opportunities to fly altogether Business secretary John Hutton
"Achieving a sustainable balance between economic, social and environmental concerns is essential to the continued success of every business, in this new century.
"Because we understand the importance of air travel to the British economy, my pledge to you (the aviation industry) is that we will continue to show leadership and commitment in advancing the sustainable aviation agenda.
"We will help make flying greener rather than restricting people's opportunities to fly altogether."We will help make flying greener rather than restricting people's opportunities to fly altogether.
"So we will take the difficult decisions on airport expansion to ensure the UK has the transport infrastructure to continue to attract business from across the globe." "So we will take the difficult decisions on airport expansion to ensure the UK has the transport infrastructure to continue to attract business from across the globe.
"The aerospace industry must remain central to the British economy - and to our future as a hi-tech manufacturing nation."
Mr Hutton continued: "Ensuring air travel continues to flourish sustainably into the future will mean tackling a new environmental and economic challenge arguably as great as learning to fly for the first time."
In its 2003 aviation White Paper, the government said it supported Heathrow's development subject to strict air quality and noise level targets being met and as long as public transport access could be improved.
Operator BAA has said Heathrow is "jam-packed" and needs a third runway to remain competitive globally but environmentalists say the proposed expansion would have a serious impact on hundreds of thousands of homes in the area.