The government will announce its decision on Heathrow's Terminal Five within a fortnight, the transport secretary Stephen Byers has said.

Byers will tell parliament whether the government is to give the green light to a fifth terminal at the UK's biggest airport in the next 14 days.

Speaking amid claims that the government would seek to "bury" its decision, Byers told the Today programme that any decision would be made public during a statement to MPs.

"I decided some considerable time ago that because terminal five was so important, I uniquely would actually announce a planning inquiry by way of an oral statement to parliament," he said.

"And that was a decision taken way before September 11, that's what I intend to do, and I hope to be able to make that announcement within the next two weeks."

The decision follows a public inquiry into the project - which is opposed by local residents. Provided there are no hitches it could take up to another 18 months before final approval and a further six months to finalise details with contractors.

Experts say that it is unlikely that work on the site will begin before the year 2003. Analysts say that means the £1.5 billion terminal could not open its first phase before 2007 and will not be fully operational before 2015.