Airport Expansion

Debate between Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill and Lord Trefgarne

Tuesday 25th February 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)]

The next process is that the Government are committed to reviewing the Airports National Policy Statement, which is a government action. Then, as I say, this summer we will receive proposals from Heathrow, or from any other promoter, about a third runway, followed by an application for a development consent order. The matters that the noble Baroness refers to will no doubt be set out in Heathrow’s proposals and those of any other promoter, and then set out in detail in the DCO. We have to wait until then to see what they say about the demand, how it should be paid for—which was the subject of the previous question—and the Government’s view about what it will do for the economy.

[Lord Trefgarne (Con)]

My Lords, where there are major changes to large airports, will the Government take into account the needs of smaller aircraft such as air taxis, which are very often subject to changes in wind speed and direction, for example?

[Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)]

I cannot say whether a third runway at Heathrow will materially affect the ability of the airport to accept air taxis. There is clearly a limit to what size of aircraft can be landed, not only at the moment but in the future, but we will bear the noble Lord’s suggestion in mind.

Airports Slot Allocation (Alleviation of Usage Requirements etc.) Regulations 2025

Debate between Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill and Lord Trefgarne

Wednesday 22nd January 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill]

That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 4 December 2024 be approved.

Relevant document: 12th Report from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee. Considered in Grand Committee on 20 January.

[Lord Trefgarne (Con)]

My Lords, am I permitted to ask a question?

Aviation Safety (Amendment) Regulations 2024

Debate between Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill and Lord Trefgarne

Wednesday 20th November 2024 Lords Chamber

[The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill) (Lab)]

My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.

[Lord Trefgarne (Con)]

I apologise if I did not make myself clear, but I am hoping to have a chance to talk about these regulations on another occasion. Is that possible?

[Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)]

My Lords, this lengthy and comprehensive statutory instrument was debated on Monday in Grand Committee and approved. This afternoon is the appropriate opportunity to move this Motion.

Transport Infrastructure: North of England

Debate between Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill and Lord Trefgarne

Tuesday 12th November 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)]

When the Government were elected, they were faced with an unachievable list of infrastructure promises from the previous Government. Various schemes have not been able to be taken forward simply because there is not the money to achieve them—of which the A1 is one.

The east coast main line has had a considerable amount of investment. The struggle recently, because of the fragmentation of the railway, has been to achieve a railway timetable to take advantage of the £4 billion that has been spent on it. I hope that we have got there, but of course that is one of the reasons for rail reform: we should not be investing £4 billion in a railway only to find that we cannot construct a timetable to take advantage of the investment.

[Lord Trefgarne (Con)]

My Lords, is not the runway at Sheffield Airport rather short and suitable for only the smallest aeroplanes?

[Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)]

I am afraid I do not have information about the length of the runway. I am sure that the proposition to reopen the airport takes into account its existing configuration, and I am sure that the public bodies concerned with it are confident that the airport, whatever length of runway it has, can support the local economy with the appropriate air services.

Road Investment Strategy

Debate between Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill and Lord Trefgarne

Wednesday 11th September 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)]

I can confirm that, following the Chancellor’s Statement and a review of the Treasury’s spending audit, which identified more than £2.9 billion-worth of unfunded transport spend this year, the scheme for the A303 at Stonehenge will no longer go ahead.

[Lord Trefgarne (Con)]

My Lords, can the noble Lord say what progress has been made with constructing the new junction for the A3 and the M25, when he expects it to be complete and what he expects it to cost?

[Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)]

I do not have the precise answer to that question, so I will be delighted to write to the noble Lord to clarify the questions he asked.