Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on public safety of proposals to expand use of the emergency runway at Gatwick airport for commercial flights.

A proposal to expand use of the northern runway at Gatwick Airport is currently subject to a live application for a Development Consent Order, which will be determined by my Department. It would therefore not be appropriate for me to comment but all relevant matters, including safety and noise, will be thoroughly considered before a decision is issued, the statutory deadline for which is 27 February 2025.