Inquiry into Stansted is postponed

The Government has postponed the public inquiry into a second runway at Stansted airport, it was announced today.

It was to have started on 15 April but notice of a postponement - until some time in mid-summer- was given today by Communities and Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears.

She said she was putting the inquiry back because of the imminent publication of the Competition Commission's final report into BAA's ownership of airports. The commission, in interim reports, has proposed that BAA give up operating Gatwick and Stansted airports.

In her letter today, Ms Blears said: "I am certain that we should neither be seen to second-guess the contents of the final Competition Commission report, nor the response of the airport operator until after they have had time to consider its findings and implications."