Oral Answers to Questions

Laura Sandys Excerpts

Wednesday 3rd July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Crabb]

I agree with my hon. Friend that we have some unique and outstanding areas of beauty in Wales that need to be protected where possible, but, as I said in answer to an earlier question, these projects are best dealt with case by case, balancing environmental considerations with those of affordability and, of course, the views of the local communities, which should be at the heart of all planning applications.

[Laura Sandys (South Thanet) (Con)]

2. What recent assessment he has made of the role and importance of the aviation sector in Wales.

[Karen Lumley (Redditch) (Con)]

8. What recent assessment he has made of the role and importance of the aviation sector in Wales.

[The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr David Jones)]

The aviation sector is vital to the Welsh economy, and I was pleased to see so many Welsh businesses represented at the Paris air show last month.

[Laura Sandys]

Does the Secretary of State agree that the UK’s overall aviation strategy is there to support more jobs, exciting top-end engineering and ensuring we have a strong technology base in this country?

[Mr Jones]

Yes, the United Kingdom aerospace industry is the second largest in the world, and is by far the largest in Europe, and it contributes some £24 billion per annum to the UK economy. The Government have set out our strategic vision for the UK’s civil aerospace sector in the aerospace industrial strategy, which includes Government investment of £2 billion over the next seven years.