asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to proposals to construct a new airport on the Dungeness peninsula. [HL3388]

We are not aware of any proposals for a new airport on the Dungeness peninsular. However, we are aware of two planning applications in regard to Lydd airport. It would be prejudicial for Ministers, who have a quasi-judicial role in the planning process, to comment on matters in regard to Lydd airport that are subject to a planning application and may come before a planning inquiry.

The Government's policy on airport expansion remains as set out in the 2003 White Paper The Future of Air Transport and as confirmed in the 2006 Progress Report. In the run-up to the 2003 White Paper the Government considered at length a large number of options for additional airport capacity across the UK, several of which were then subject to public consultation. In the south-east, support is given to a new runway at Stansted Airport, followed by one at Heathrow Airport subject to meeting strict local environmental conditions.