Lord Spellar
Main Page: Lord Spellar (Labour - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Spellar's debates with the Department for Transport
(1 day, 11 hours ago)
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Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)
My Lords, it is the turn of the Cross Benches.
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)
I thank the right reverend Prelate for her question. The best thing the Government can do is move forward on this for the first time. The debate about the third runway has been going on for years and years, and the airport is as congested as it ever was, as I said. The residents she refers to, in Harmondsworth, Sipson and other villages, have no satisfaction about the future because the future has been uncertain for a long time. The best thing we can do is to get on with this and make a decision. Of course, we would expect whoever the promoter is to actively work to look after the communities affected by the third runway development.
Lord Spellar (Lab)
My Lords, I congratulate the Minister on moving on with proposals that originally came in the 2003 White Paper, which, as Minister for Transport, I had some hand in. I also point out that our very successful aviation industry is beneficial not only to the economy as a whole but very much to local communities around our main airports, providing well-paid, unionised jobs. Will he get on with it?
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)
Well, what can I say to my noble friend, who not only asks this question but gives all the answers as well? I think that will do.