A former Conservative transport minister has accused the Government of failing to divulge the cost of new transport links to an expanded Heathrow airport, according to the Guardian.
Stephen Hammond MP told the paper that ministers needed to ‘come clean’ over the probable cost to the public of £5bn-£10bn for road and rail links.
Mr Hammond became a transport minister in September 2012 when the Airports Commission was established and served until 2014.
Mr Hammond was a transport minister from 2012-14
He said the Department for Transport was misinforming the public by stating in its announcement that: ‘Expansion costs will be paid for by the private sector, not by the taxpayer.’
Mr Hammond said transport secretary Chris Grayling had not made a similar commitment in his statement to Parliament. Mr Grayling gave ‘an assurance … on costs for airlines and passengers’.
The Tory MP said: ‘There will be a number of specific things we will be doing for Heathrow. The Government and Heathrow need to come clean on what the cost to the taxpayer is going to be. No one would be surprised if it is £5bn, but we should just be honest about it.’
The Commission’s final report estimated the cost of additional surface access links at £5bn. However, Transport for London has said the cost could be as high as £18bn.
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