Since the White Paper appeared three weeks ago, there has been both the opportunity for an initial reaction to emerge and sufficient time for a more mature consideration of the policy conclusions and their implications. The symposium today provides the first occasion open to the Government to explain the policy to a wider audience—outside the House of Commons and the meetings which I have been holding up and down the country at particular airports—to comment on the principal views which have been expressed so far; and to receive a reaction to the White Paper and its recommendations from influential opinion within the airlines, airport authorities, local authorities, amenity organisations and airport users.

It is not my intention to comment on the detailed conclusions of the White Paper, which Neville Ledsome will be covering shortly. But I would like to refer briefly to the Government's overall approach; to the immediate reaction to the White Paper; and to the next steps in the development of airports policy, for which the White Paper marks a beginning rather than an end.