Member

I would not object in principle if the Government were to say, “We are going to provide enhanced road and rail connections to Heathrow as a result of its expansion”. We find that acceptable in this country. It is a normal thing to do and I expect the Government, at some point, will have to commit to doing that. There are numerous schemes being discussed about enhanced Network Rail connections to Heathrow. Whether the Government, in their current anti-car mode, feel that there is scope for additional road access is another question, but there is certainly scope for new and additional rail access. Many schemes are going around at the moment and I would not be astonished if the Government say they will pay for them, because they provide new capacity and new connections. But what the Government must not do—I believe they have said they will not do—is pay for transport construction that adds no capacity or general benefit to the public at large.