Airport Capacity

Debate between Lord Kilclooney and Earl Attlee

Monday 14th December 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Kilclooney (CB)]

My Lords—

[Earl Attlee (Con)]

My Lords—

Gypsies and Travellers

Debate between Lord Kilclooney and Earl Attlee

Thursday 16th February 2012 Lords Chamber

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, the noble Lord is right in his analysis. The problem is to find a long-term solution, which is why I referred to the problem of economic activity. Without legitimate economic activity for Travellers, local communities will not be keen on having Traveller sites near them. That is the nub of the problem.

[Lord Kilclooney]

My Lords, during this period of consultation, will the Government look further at the apparent ease with which foreign Gypsies and Travellers enter the United Kingdom?

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, I am not sure exactly which problem the noble Lord refers to, because there are a few, but I will communicate with him outside the Chamber.

Airports: Heathrow

Debate between Lord Kilclooney and Earl Attlee

Tuesday 15th November 2011 Lords Chamber

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, the proposals for the sale of BMI are a commercial matter for its owner, Lufthansa. There is no indication that there will be any changes to the current level of BMI services from Belfast City Airport to London Heathrow. A number of other airlines also operate services between Northern Ireland’s airports and London airports. Existing services also operate from Belfast International Airport to hub airports in northern Europe.

[Lord Kilclooney]

My Lords, does the Minister recall that there used to be two airlines flying from Belfast to Heathrow—British Airways and British Midland? However, British Airways withdrew that service and allocated the slots elsewhere. If it now takes over British Midland, will the Government do nothing to stop British Airways withdrawing those slots from the Belfast flight?

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, at the moment we do not see a problem. However, it would be open to the Northern Ireland Assembly to apply to the Secretary of State for Transport to impose a public service obligation on an air route from Northern Ireland to London, should the Assembly feel that a case can be made which satisfies the EU regulations on PSOs. If approved, this would permit slots to be ring-fenced at a London airport. However, there is no other mechanism for the Government to intervene in the allocation of slots at Heathrow or other London airports. We do not see the need at the moment to impose a public service obligation.

Olympic Games 2012: Courier Industry

Debate between Lord Kilclooney and Earl Attlee

Tuesday 28th June 2011 Lords Chamber

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, that is an extremely interesting question which I am sure my officials will love researching to enable me to write to my noble friend.

[Lord Kilclooney]

My Lords, can the Minister assure us that there will be no roadworks in London during the 2012 Olympics?

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, when I had my discussions with the TfL officials I was very impressed with the number of different problems they have considered, and I am sure that they will do everything they can to minimise all roadworks where they could cause a problem.