Transport Infrastructure

Bernard Jenkin Excerpts

Tuesday 17th December 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr McLoughlin]

Having responded to questions from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, I am well aware of the importance to Northern Ireland of its connections with London. I have had no direct conversations with the Northern Ireland Assembly, but I have of course listened to what colleagues in the House of Commons have had to say.

[Mr Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex) (Con)]

I commend the Howard Davies commission for recognising that the Isle of Grain cannot be lightly dismissed and merits further consideration. However, he said this morning, when comparing it with the other proposals, that the Thames estuary proposal was

“a much more extensive proposition for shifting the economic geography of the south-east of England by creating a new pole of economic development.”

Is that within the remit of the commission?

[Mr McLoughlin]

I should make it clear that by “he said”, my hon. Friend meant what Sir Howard Davies had said, rather than any words that I might have said.

The commission must look at the whole proposal, and it has said that it will do so, because it is completely different from the proposals that certain airports have been making themselves. The matter will be addressed in the report which Sir Howard has said he hopes to produce by next summer.