Lord Heseltine has called for the government to speed up the process of solving the airport capacity crunch in the south-east.
The former Conservative deputy prime minister made the call in his independent report on how to improve the UK economy, entitled ‘No stone unturned in pursuit of growth’, which was commissioned by chancellor George Osborne and business secretary Vince Cable.
One of Heseltine’s recommendations on airport capacity reads: “The government should accept the need to clarify urgently its preferred solution to the problem of airport capacity in the south-east and indicate that preference whilst making its implementation conditional on the outcome of the next election.”
The coalition government has set up a new independent commission under the leadership of former CBI boss Sir Howard Davies but it is not due to report fully until mid-2015 after the next general election.
But Heseltine says this process needs to be brought forward and it can be done without breaking the coalition agreement’s that there will be no third runway at Heathrow or second runways at Gatwick and Stansted.
“These issues are very controversial, and therefore difficult, decisions for the government to resolve,” said Heseltine. “But the problem will not go away.
“The government has asked Sir Howard Davies to chair a commission to investigate the issue and make recommendations as to the best way forward, which I welcome. However, I think the government should revisit the timing of his findings.
“I believe there is a way forward which injects more urgency into the decision making process – and therefore confidence for all those we want to invest in our economy – without compromising the commitments made.”
Heseltine suggested that instead of waiting to make his recommendations in 2015, Davies should give his advice next year and then the government should set out its preferred option before the general election.
“All political parties could set out their positions in their next manifestos,” he added. “In the meantime preparatory work could commence, with a commitment that no construction contracts would be let until a mandate had been secured at the next general election.
“This would help unblock the current situation, where business sees at least three years more inertia before any indication of direction is provided. A commitment this time next year to a preferred solution would at least provide the private sector, here and abroad, with the necessary confidence that this government has a clear vision for the future.”
Heseltine has presented his report to Osborne and Cable, and government said it will “consider the recommendations”.
Osborne said: “I wanted Lord Heseltine to do what he does best: challenge received wisdom and give us ideas on how to bring government and industry together. He has done exactly that. This is a report bursting with ideas and we will study it very carefully.”