Airport Expansion

Lord Sharma Excerpts

Tuesday 25th February 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)]

I certainly do not agree with the noble Earl’s assertion about the incompatibility of this. The Government have been clear that any airport expansion proposals need to demonstrate that they contribute to economic growth, can be delivered in line with the UK’s legally binding climate change commitments, and meet strict environmental requirements on air quality and noise pollution. The work of the department has shown that we can achieve aviation net zero by 2050 under a range of assumptions about future technology development without the Government needing to intervene directly to limit airport expansion.

[Lord Sharma (Con)]

My Lords, when it comes to airport expansion and more flights, one of the key measures that can be used to reduce emissions is the increased use of sustainable aviation fuels. I welcome the SAF mandate but, when it comes to job creation and energy security, it is important that the SAF we are using in the UK is manufactured in the UK. Will the Minister set out what plans the Government have to support SAF production in the UK? Will he tell me how many jobs he expects to have been created in that sector specifically under those plans by 2030?

[Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)]

The noble Lord is right that sustainable aviation fuel is important in reducing the carbon footprint of air traffic. This Government have taken forward the SAF mandate, which came into force in January, which progressively increases the percentage of sustainable jet fuel used from this year onwards. It is also important, as the noble Lord says, that the UK is a supplier, and the actions of the Government are to make sure that there are jobs in Britain and that Britain is a leading supplier of this. On 29 January, the Government announced £63 million of funding for the advanced fuels fund in the next financial year to support SAF producers based across the United Kingdom. I do not have a jobs figure to hand for SAF, but I will willingly write to the noble Lord and tell him what we know about it.