Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jake Berry and James Duddridge

Monday 22nd January 2018 Commons Chamber

[James Duddridge (Rochford and Southend East) (Con)]

10. What steps the Government are taking to ensure that the Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission takes account of the needs of south Essex.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Jake Berry)]

Under Sir John Armitt’s leadership, the Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission is engaging all interested parties, including on last Friday’s visit to Southend airport, which I understand my hon. Friend attended. The commission is developing an ambitious vision for south Essex, north Kent and east London, and will publish its final report this spring.

[James Duddridge]

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. London Southend airport, as we like to refer to it, will have a major impact on the commission. What role does he see London Southend airport playing in boosting growth and productivity across the whole of south Essex?

[Jake Berry]

I, too, like to refer to it as London Southend airport, which I think is its correct name. It is a real success story and has great potential for growth—it has an ambitious 2 million passenger target this year. Stobart Group has already invested £162 million in a new terminal. That puts London Southend airport at the heart of the Thames estuary commission’s growth plans.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jake Berry and James Duddridge

Thursday 23rd November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Jake Berry]

Under the Equality Act, there is already a requirement to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that changing places are provided. Other alterations would have to be made in building regulations. We are currently undertaking a building regulations review, and I do not wish to prejudge its conclusions, but let me highlight the extent of the problem. Only nine train stations out of a total of 2,500, only 12 motorway service stations out of nearly 100 and only 50 out of nearly 500 shopping centres have changing places. That is simply not good enough.

[James Duddridge (Rochford and Southend East) (Con)]

T1. If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.