Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received from business groups in Sussex on increasing the range of destinations available from Gatwick Airport (a) in North America and (b) in the rest of the world; and if he will make a statement.

My Ministerial colleagues and I regularly receive representations from a range of stakeholders about aviation connectivity.

To ensure our long term connectivity needs can be met, the previous Government established the independent Airports Commission to identify and recommend to Government options for maintaining this country’s status as an international hub for aviation. Three options for expansion were shortlisted by the Commission for further examination including one for a new runway at Gatwick airport.

The Commission’s final report, published on 01 July 2015, took account of responses to its consultation on the three options which closed in February this year. The Government is now considering the Airports Commissions recommendations and intends to take decisions by the end of the year.