Minister hints at runway go-ahead

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The Government is due to make a decision on development of Heathrow Airport, including a new, third, runway by the end of the year.

Business Secretary John Hutton said the Government would "take the difficult decisions on airport expansion" and would make flying greener rather than restricting people's opportunities to fly altogether.

Environment groups have been strong in their opposition to expansion at Heathrow in west London, particularly as homes would be lost if development goes ahead.

Mr Hutton, speaking at the opening of the Farnborough Air Show, added: "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."

He added: "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. 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."

Mr Hutton added: "The aerospace industry must remain central to the British economy - and to our future as a hi-tech manufacturing nation."

He said the level of progress represented by the world's largest passenger plane - the Airbus A380 superjumbo, whose wings are made in the UK - and the prosperity and jobs it created across the UK, "brings home to me why it is so critical that Britain remains a cutting-edge manufacturing nation in the decades ahead".