by political editor Paul Francis

The Prime Minister has ruled out bringing forward a major review of aviation that will recommend where new airports in the south east could be built.

Mr Cameron rejected a call by Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith for the government to set out its aviation policy before the next general election.

The government has commissioned Howard Davies to conduct a review, but he will not publish his full report until 2015.

An interim report on his provisional findings, which is expected to outline if options for an estuary airport in Kent are viable, is due later this year.

That has led to complaints that the government is pushing the issue into the long grass to avoid a potentially awkward electoral issue.

Mr Goldsmith, who represents Richmond Park and opposes any expansion of
Heathrow airport, challenged the Prime Minister over the delay in the House of Commons yesterday.

"Can the Prime Minister reconcile his recent comments on the need to accelerate major infrastructure projects with the government's decision to postpone forming a policy on airports until after the next general election? Will he reconsider and bring that review forward?" he said.

In his reply, Mr Cameron (pictured right) said the issue was complicated and the Davies review would help politicians make a decision on a cross-party basis.

"Sir Howard Davies says in his review that this is a complicated issue that merits proper examination, which will take time. We need, as a country, to make major decisions on airports and airport capacity.

"We should aim as far as possible to try to make those decisions on a cross-party basis. I hope the Howard Davies report helps that to happen."