Jim Dickson
Main Page: Jim Dickson (Labour - Dartford)Department Debates - View all Jim Dickson's debates with the HM Treasury
(1 day, 7 hours ago)
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Rachel Reeves
As the hon. Gentleman knows, the Government are a big supporter of our airports and the aviation sector. That is why we are backing a third runway at Heathrow, a second runway at Gatwick, as well as expansion at Stansted and Luton airports. We are in regular contact with the aviation sector. It is currently not reporting any challenges with security of supply, but as the hon. Gentleman and the House would expect, we are planning for all different scenarios. The best way to ensure security of supply is to reopen the strait of Hormuz by working to de-escalate this conflict.
Jim Dickson (Dartford) (Lab)
I welcome the fact that in this time of economic shocks, the Government are playing their proper role in protecting UK households from the worst harms, and I thank the Chancellor for the work that she is doing with other Finance Ministers and Governments to bring about a de-escalation of the war—unlike others, who advocate for escalation. Does she agree that, in addition to taking the measures that she has talked about today, and that the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero has announced, she must continue, alongside the rest of the Government, to press other Governments for de-escalation of the war? That is the best way to protect UK households.
Rachel Reeves
That is why the whole House welcomed the Prime Minister and the French President convening a meeting of 50 countries on Friday, to work on how we could reopen of the strait of Hormuz and, crucially, on the protection of vessels travelling through it, when it is safe for them to do so; and it is why I have been working with the insurance industry to ensure that the right cover will be available to vessels, when it is possible to travel through the strait again. When I was in Washington last week, I met our allies from the Gulf countries, who made clear the importance of reopening the strait of Hormuz and preserving toll-free travel through it.