Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost of surface access improvements if Heathrow airport is expanded.

Heathrow Airport Limited have committed to meet the costs of any surface access proposals that are essential to deliver airport expansion including works on the M25, the A4 and the A3044.

Where proposed surface access projects have wider beneficiaries, such as the Western Rail and Southern Rail proposals, the Government will consider funding a proportion based on benefits for airport users and other beneficiaries in line with our Aviation Policy Framework.

The Airports Commission estimated that the potential costs of the surface access provision for a northwest runway were around £5bn but recognised that the finalised details, and therefore costs, would be determined as part of the statutory planning process.