MPs say there is no need for expansion at Stansted

The Government should consider building an extra runway at Gatwick airport rather than Stansted, a report from MPs said today.

Members of the Commons Transport Committee said they were "not convinced" a national case for the need of another runway at Stansted had been made.

The MPs said, taking everything into account, it was unlikely that a second runway could be completed at the Essex airport before 2019 - the year when the current restriction on a second runway at Gatwick expired.

The committee also supported plans to expand Heathrow but said they said they were concerned at the "lack of clarity" on the timescale for completion of the expansion project.

And they added there was no evidence that high-speed rail offered a viable alternative to Heathrow expansion.

The committee, however, called on the Government to ensure major airports, particularly Heathrow, were connected to a high-speed rail system.