Bankers being hired for £3m to tell Government if economic case for Heathrow third runway stacks up

Bankers are being recruited by the Government for at least £3 million to advise on the strength of the economic case for a third runway at Heathrow.

Ministers have also admitted that the taxpayer could be left footing a bill for the controversial plan to expand the west London airport and are seeking guidance on “the Government exposure to programme costs and risks”.