Mark Menzies (Fylde) (Con)
I have a wonderful piece of transport infrastructure in my constituency called Blackpool airport. Will the Secretary of State tell me what steps will be taken to ensure that with a third runway at Heathrow, we will see improved connectivity to my part of the north-west?
Chris Grayling
This is why I am committed to saying that the 15% of slots set aside for regional connections are set in stone. We are not going to see those suddenly disappear from 15% to 10% to 5%, with routes diverted elsewhere. The expansion of Heathrow is a really important part of delivering improvements right around the United Kingdom, and I am committed to making sure that happens.
[Official Report, 5 July 2018, Vol. 644, c. 476.]
Letter of correction from Chris Grayling:
An error has been identified in the response I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Fylde (Mark Menzies).
The correct response should have been:
Chris Grayling
As per my previous response to the hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Ruth Cadbury), I am committed to saying that around 15% of slots set aside for regional connections are set in stone. We are not going to see those suddenly disappear from 15% to 10% to 5%, with routes diverted elsewhere. The expansion of Heathrow is a really important part of delivering improvements right around the United Kingdom, and I am committed to making sure that happens.