Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Haselhurst Excerpts
Thursday 10th July 2014

(10 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Robert Goodwill Portrait Mr Goodwill
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I was expecting to be asked about surface connectivity, but travelling on the surface of the water is a novel idea. That is an exciting idea, and I would be delighted to meet those involved, and possibly even take a ride on one of those vehicles.

Lord Haselhurst Portrait Sir Alan Haselhurst (Saffron Walden) (Con)
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In the light of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s statement about the importance of a northern hub, should we pay more attention to that having a hub airport? Manchester has the possibility and potential increasingly to become a port of entry to this country, opening up the whole of the north of England and north Wales, as well as easing pressures on connectivity in the south-east.

Robert Goodwill Portrait Mr Goodwill
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I am a great fan of Manchester airport, and many of my constituents on the east coast use it because it has such good connectivity by rail. I know that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor is also keen to take pressure off other airports in the south of England, and Manchester airport and other regional airports have a great part to play in relieving pressure on the south-east. Indeed, with more point-to-point destinations being served, such as the one I saw at Newcastle recently, that is the way forward.