Davies Commission Report Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Department for Transport

Davies Commission Report

Valerie Vaz Excerpts
Wednesday 1st July 2015

(9 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Lord McLoughlin Portrait Mr McLoughlin
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I am sorry that my hon. Friend so easily dismisses page 34, which I would have thought gives him and the people who run Birmingham airport, which he has spoken about in the House on occasion, some encouragement. Those airports—Birmingham, Manchester, and Tees, just to ensure I get them all right and do not upset anybody—are all incredibly important for people around those areas and we want more flights from them.

Valerie Vaz Portrait Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)
- Hansard - -

I echo what my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley East (Michael Dugher) says, but Birmingham international stands ready for expansion with international flights to JFK in New York and Beijing that are cheaper than from Heathrow. Will the Secretary of State seriously take into account the fact that Birmingham has a strategic position in the UK and its connectivity to HS2?

Lord McLoughlin Portrait Mr McLoughlin
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Yes, I will certainly take that seriously. The hon. Lady will know that the recent runway expansion at Birmingham has been very important in trying to attract more business and offer more opportunities to fly to other destinations. She is absolutely right about how important HS2 will be for that airport.