Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Danny Kinahan and Robert Goodwill(8 years, 5 months ago)
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Danny Kinahan (South Antrim) (UUP)
17. What steps he is taking to ensure that a decision is made as soon as possible on the new airport runway in south-east England.
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Mr Robert Goodwill)
The Government are fully committed to delivering the important infrastructure projects they have set out. The hon. Gentleman heard what the Secretary of State had to say about the decision on runway capacity in the south-east.
Danny Kinahan
I thank the Minister for coming over and visiting us, and discussing with all of us the future of runways and connectivity, but I am incredibly disappointed by today’s decision. He knows that Dublin airport is due to have its new runway by 2023. We need a decision. May we have a promise that we will have a decision by Christmas 2016?
Mr Goodwill
I think the Secretary of State was very clear. There are some other interesting developments, for example Stobart Air is looking at connections between Carlisle and Belfast, Carlisle and Dublin, and Carlisle and Southend, which will increase connectivity and improve the prospects for tourism so that people in the north of England can visit the wonderful Ulster that he represents.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Danny Kinahan and Robert Goodwill(8 years, 9 months ago)
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Danny Kinahan (South Antrim) (UUP)
May I thank the Minister of State for his visit to Northern Ireland? It was good to see everyone in the Union working together. He visited Belfast International airport, Lough Neagh Rescue and Wrightbus. Will he use his influence to help the various road and rail projects we saw, and help with things such as air passenger duty, enterprise zones and, of course, one day having a new runway here to improve links to Northern Ireland?
Mr Goodwill
It was great to visit Ulster and see some of the good news about the 300 new jobs at Belfast International airport. Ryanair is now based at that airport, with direct flights to Gatwick and new routes in the pipeline, including to Milan and Berlin. It was great to visit Northern Ireland, and I look forward to going again.