Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish analysis undertaken by his Department on the effect on the M25 of the expansion of Heathrow being constructed over that motorway.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
Our airports are national assets and their expansion is a core part of boosting our global connectivity. This in turn will drive economic growth for all parts of this country, connecting our nations and regions to international markets, levelling up our economy and supporting a truly Global Britain.
The Court of Appeal ruled on 27 February that when designating the Airports National Policy Statement, which was backed by Parliament, the previous Government did not take account of the Paris Agreement, non-CO2 emissions and emissions post 2050. We have always been clear that Heathrow expansion is a private sector project which must meet strict criteria on air quality, noise and climate change, as well as being privately financed, affordable, and delivered in the best interest of consumers. The Government has taken the decision not to appeal this judgment. The promoters of the scheme will be able to seek permission from the Supreme Court to appeal if they wish.
As part of its judgment, the Court has declared that the Airports National Policy Statement is of no legal effect unless and until the government carries out a review under the Planning Act 2008. The Court’s judgment is complex and requires careful consideration. We will set out our next steps in due course.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of a (a) one year, (b) two year and (c) three year delay to construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport on (i) noise, (ii) air pollution and (iii) congestion on local transport networks.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
Our airports are national assets and their expansion is a core part of boosting our global connectivity. This in turn will drive economic growth for all parts of this country, connecting our nations and regions to international markets, levelling up our economy and supporting a truly Global Britain.
The Court of Appeal ruled on 27 February that when designating the Airports National Policy Statement, which was backed by Parliament, the previous Government did not take account of the Paris Agreement, non-CO2 emissions and emissions post 2050. We have always been clear that Heathrow expansion is a private sector project which must meet strict criteria on air quality, noise and climate change, as well as being privately financed, affordable, and delivered in the best interest of consumers. The Government has taken the decision not to appeal this judgment. The promoters of the scheme will be able to seek permission from the Supreme Court to appeal if they wish.
As part of its judgment, the Court has declared that the Airports National Policy Statement is of no legal effect unless and until the government carries out a review under the Planning Act 2008. The Court’s judgment is complex and requires careful consideration. We will set out our next steps in due course.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of a phased construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport on new connections to regional airports.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
Our airports are national assets and their expansion is a core part of boosting our global connectivity. This in turn will drive economic growth for all parts of this country, connecting our nations and regions to international markets, levelling up our economy and supporting a truly Global Britain.
The Court of Appeal ruled on 27 February that when designating the Airports National Policy Statement, which was backed by Parliament, the previous Government did not take account of the Paris Agreement, non-CO2 emissions and emissions post 2050. We have always been clear that Heathrow expansion is a private sector project which must meet strict criteria on air quality, noise and climate change, as well as being privately financed, affordable, and delivered in the best interest of consumers. The Government has taken the decision not to appeal this judgment. The promoters of the scheme will be able to seek permission from the Supreme Court to appeal if they wish.
As part of its judgment, the Court has declared that the Airports National Policy Statement is of no legal effect unless and until the government carries out a review under the Planning Act 2008. The Court’s judgment is complex and requires careful consideration. We will set out our next steps in due course.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has undertaken to ensure that the expansion of Heathrow by over 700 aircraft each day is compatible with the Government’s policy on achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government is committed to setting a clear ambition for the aviation sector and is carefully considering the advice of the Committee on Climate Change.
We are planning to consult shortly on an update to the Government’s position on aviation and climate change. It is critical that we consider how the sector can play its part in delivering our net zero ambitions, while continuing to thrive.
The Airports National Policy Statement guarantees that a new Northwest runway at Heathrow will only be built if an applicant for development consent can demonstrate that any increase in carbon emissions from the scheme will not materially impact the government’s ability to meet its carbon reduction targets.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) Putney Heath and (b) other wildlife sites are protected from air traffic pollution if a third runway is built at Heathrow Airport.
Answered by Grant Shapps - Secretary of State for Defence
Following designation of the Airports National Policy Statement, it is now down to an applicant for development consent to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment that identifies any likely significant effects of the proposed project on the environment. This will include a detailed assessment of the air quality impacts of its scheme, including during construction, and put forward an appropriate package of mitigations that address air quality impacts and demonstrate compliance.
In order to grant development consent, the Secretary of State would need to be satisfied that, with mitigation, the scheme would be compliant with legal obligations.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to assess the effect of the three year delay to Heathrow's third runway on the economic benefits of that scheme.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Airports National Policy Statement sets out that there is a need to increase airport capacity in the South East of England by 2030 by constructing one new runway and that this need is best met by the Northwest Runway scheme at Heathrow Airport.
Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) have confirmed that they intend to submit an application for development consent in 2020 which, if approved by the Secretary of State, following a report from the Planning Inspectorate, would allow for the construction and the opening of a third runway between early 2028 and late 2029.
Given that the delivery of any major infrastructure scheme is subject to uncertainty, prior to the designation of the Airports National Policy Statement, the Department for Transport undertook scenario and sensitivity testing which included an assessment of the impacts of a two-year delay on the delivery of the three schemes shortlisted by the Airports Commission, this was from 2025 in the case of Gatwick Airport and 2026 in the case of the two Heathrow schemes. The case for the Northwest Runway was not materially changed by such a delay. Furthermore, such a delay would serve to similarly reduce the schemes’ disbenefits, partially offsetting the reduction in direct economic benefits.
Asked by: Adam Afriyie (Conservative - Windsor)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the long-term environmental impacts for the Thames Valley region following the construction of the proposed north-west runway at Heathrow Airport.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Natural England has a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL), to provide them with pre-application advice in relation to the proposed airport expansion. The advice being provided to Heathrow is being led and coordinated by the Thames Area Team.
The potential impacts from the proposed expansion of Heathrow airport, to the Thames Valley, and the avoidance, mitigation, and compensation measures required to address them, are the focus of Natural England’s detailed advice to HAL. This advice can be broadly categorised into the following:
Natural England are working closely with Heathrow Airport Limited to ensure they submit sufficient information as part of their Development Consent Order application, to enable the Secretary of State to take a view as to the environmental impacts of the proposed expansion.
Additionally the Environment Agency (EA) has provided a response to HAL’s Preliminary Environmental Information report and continue to be in discussion over their proposals as they form their EA and Statement of Common Ground.
The application stage for the Development Consent Order is expected in Autumn 2020. We expect more details about HAL’s proposals to be shared with the EA at this stage which will enable them to make an informed judgement.
Asked by: Adam Afriyie (Conservative - Windsor)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the benefits of the construction of a second runway at Gatwick airport; and what comparative assessment he has made of those benefits with proposals to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Airports National Policy Statement, designated in June 2018 following the overwhelming support of MPs, sets out how a Northwest Runway at Heathrow Airport will address the United Kingdom's airport capacity needs and maintain the nation's status as a global aviation hub.
The Airports National Policy Statement details how a Northwest Runway scheme at Heathrow delivers a greater breadth of benefits more quickly than a second runway at Gatwick Airport across a range of passenger, economic and environmental measures. The Airports National Policy Statement, and all accompanying documents – including extensive analysis, are available online at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/airports-national-policy-statement
Asked by: Adam Afriyie (Conservative - Windsor)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the construction of the North-West Runway at Heathrow airport will not, in real terms, increase the cost of flying from Heathrow Airport for passengers.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is clear that expansion cannot come at any cost, and must be in the interest of the consumer.
Fares are set by airlines after taking a wide range of factors into account, but it is the Government’s expectation that increased airline competition following expansion would help increase choice and reduce fares for passengers.
Heathrow Airport Limited has committed to delivering expansion while keeping airport charges at close to 2016 levels in real terms. In its most recent assessment of affordability, the CAA stated that there are plausible scenarios in which this can be delivered. Government and the CAA will continue to hold industry to account to deliver expansion that is in the best interest of the consumer. The CAA has confirmed that this could include a small increase in airport charges if this were required to unlock the wider consumer benefits of expansion.
In its Final Report, the Airports Commission also noted that the analysis it had commissioned suggested that expansion of either Heathrow or Gatwick would deliver competition benefits and that fares would be likely to remain unaffected or even to fall, even after an increase in airport charges. Competition benefits could be even greater for expansion at Heathrow, given the significant pent up demand at that airport.
The Department has not conducted an assessment of Gatwick Airport Limited’s latest plans, on the basis that it will be for Gatwick Airport to prepare an economic case for any proposal, which the Planning Inspectorate would examine through the development consent process.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is Government policy to support the construction of a third runway at Heathrow airport.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Airports National Policy Statement was designated as government policy in June 2018 following a vote in the House of Commons.
It sets out that there is a need to increase airport capacity in the South East of England by 2030 by constructing one new runway and that this need is best met by the Northwest runway scheme at Heathrow airport.
The government is clear that expansion cannot come at any cost, and must be in the interest of the consumer. The Airports National Policy Statement includes strict environmental requirements which an applicant for development consent must demonstrate it can meet.
The Court of Appeal has granted permission to hear from appellants in October this year. This follows the High Court’s decision to dismiss all 26 grounds raised in the judicial review of the previous Secretary of State’s decision to designate the Airports National Policy Statement.