TRANSPORT Secretary Geoff Hoon has rubbished arguments against a third runway at Heathrow as he indicated the Government was set to press ahead with controversial expansion plans.

Although he paid lip service to the official line that no decision has been made, Mr Hoon's hard-hitting comments suggested campaigners against a third runway are set to lose their fight.

The Transport Secretary insisted jobs would be lost and the price of a holiday would increase if the Government said no to Heathrow owner BAA's expansion plans.

And in a comment which will surprise many campaigners, he claimed a new runway would actually help the environment - by reducing delays at the airport.

But the planned runway was also condemned by MPs from all parties, including his Labour colleagues, in a House of Commons debate.

Mr Hoon insisted Government policy remained as set out in the 2003 Aviation White Paper, which supported a third runway "subject to the clear environmental conditions".

But he added: "There are now more than 1 million flights a year. That is what has changed - the need for new capacity has got greater."

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ENVIRONMENTAL pressure groups have launched a joint plea for the Government to ditch plans for a third runway at Heathrow.

The National Trust, WWF, Campaign to Protect Rural England, Campaign for Better Transport, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace urged Ministers to rule against expanding Heathrow.

The Government is set to make its decision before the end of the year.

Ministers have said they support a third runway in principle, but only if it won't cause excessive damage to the environment.

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BORIS Johnson has promised a "bigger and better" transport network for London - despite axing transport improvements worth £3 billion.

The London mayor said the city had to scrap "unrealistic" proposals at a time when many residents were struggling because of the state of the economy.

At the launch of a ten-year business plan for the capital's transport network, he promised to create thousands of jobs and boost the city's transport capacity by 30 per cent.

Better transport links would mean less time commuting and more time for people to spend with their families, he said.

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THE chaotic opening of Heathrow's Terminal 5 was a "national embarrassment", a Commons inquiry has concluded.

But MPs did give Heathrow credit for tackling some of the causes of the problems, in the months since the opening in March.

The conclusion was issued by the Transport Select Committee, following an inquiry into the £4.3 billion terminal.

MPs said customers had been promised a "calmer, smoother, simpler airport experience".

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THE campaign against a third runway at Heathrow has received a major boost after the Government launched a surprise inquiry into the case for a new high speed rail line.

Opponents of expansion at Heathrow are arguing that high speed rail could provide an alternative to the proposed 2,200 metre runway.

A Commons motion signed by 78 MPs urged the Government "to rethink its plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport and to give full consideration to alternative solutions", and complains "that provisions to improve high speed rail lines from Heathrow to major cities have not been fully explored."

Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has announced he is ordering an inquiry into the case for high speed rail, which would link Eurostar services in St Pancras with the Midlands and the North of England.

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CABINET Ministers are said to be lining up to oppose a third runway at Heathrow.

Sceptics who doubt the need for a new 2,200 metre at London's premiere airport are warning dealing with the effects of the credit crunch should take priority over aviation expansion.

It follows a plea by 23 Labour MPs for a policy rethink.

They are among 50 MPs from all parties to sign a Commons motion urging the Government to reconsider the case for a high speed rail line which could provide an alternative.

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CAMPAIGNERS against a third runway at Heathrow are to march on Parliament as the Government prepares to announce its decision.

Opposition to a proposed 2,200 metre runway will be a central theme of a day of action against climate change on December 6.

The event will include speeches from Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, as well as former Labour environment minister Michael Meacher.

If it goes ahead, a third runway would be built north of the A4 by 2020.

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