Government Told To Reveal 'Secret' Stansted Airport Data
The UK government has been told to reveal "secret" data on the development plans at Stansted Airport.
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK' privacy watchdog says there are "clear failings" in the Department of Transport (DOT)'s handling of data related to the Stansted development plans, which involve a second runway and terminal at the Essex airport.
The ICO has told the government that the DOT should release the data "because of the public interest in the future of air transport" and more especially the "wide-ranging impact on people's lives, the economy and the environment".
Stansted Expansion Environmental Impact
The ICO's ruling follows a request made under the Freedom of Information Act to view documents relating to the Stansted expansion environmental impact. These documents were included in the government's White Paper on air transport, published in 2003. The request to view the documents was made after airports operator BAA, Stansted's owner, announced the plans to expand the airport.
The Information Commissioner's report said the DOT refused to release the information, with the government arguing that its disclosure would prejudice future policy decisions.
However, the ICO said the secret data should have been published. It said disclosing it "would have allowed more informed debate" about BAA's plans for the airport.
Airport Expansion Consultation
The ruling could have an important impact regarding expansion consultations.
During the three-month consultation period on the proposals to develop Heathrow Airport to include a third runway and sixth terminal, many of those opposed to the development plans - numbering environmental campaigners, residents and local authorities - claimed the government had prejudiced the airport expansion consultation process because they were not releasing environmental data included in the 2003 White Paper.
At the time, the Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman Norman Baker MP described the consultation as a "sham". He intimated that the DOT had deliberately held back environmental data in order to make a more effective case for expansion.
With the ICO report, it is possible that in future the government may be forced by law to release more information into the public domain.
Source - Airport International's Aviation Correspondent
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