Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of Heathrow Airport on expansion of the airport.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State has had no recent discussion with Heathrow Airport Ltd on proposals to expand the airport.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of the proposals for a third runway at Heathrow Airport for the West Midlands region.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
No recent assessment has been made of the merits of a third runway at Heathrow Airport for the regions.
Heathrow expansion remains a private sector project and it is for the scheme promoter to decide when it submits a development consent order as part of the statutory planning process.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they still support the construction of a third runway at Heathrow airport.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) 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 remains supportive of airport expansion where it can be delivered within our environmental obligations. The Government has always been clear that Heathrow expansion remains 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.
Asked by: Kim Johnson (Labour - Liverpool, Riverside)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of proposed (a) Liverpool and (b) Heathrow airport expansions on (i) levels of UK carbon emissions and (ii) the ability of the Government to meet its targets on reducing those emissions.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Government is supportive of airport expansion where it can be delivered within our environmental obligations. We welcome the efforts of airports across the UK to come forward with ambitious proposals to invest in their infrastructure.
Every development proposal is judged by the relevant planning authority, taking careful account of all relevant considerations, including environmental impacts and proposed mitigations.
The aviation sector has a critical role to play in delivering the UK’s net zero commitment. In July 2021, we published the Jet Zero Consultation which set out our vision for the aviation sector to reach net zero by 2050. Our consultation includes scenarios that achieve our net zero target by focussing on new fuels and technology. We are carefully considering consultation responses in the development of our final Jet Zero Strategy which we aim to publish later this year.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on the construction of a third runway at Heathrow airport.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Government has always been clear that Heathrow expansion remains a private sector project which must meet strict criteria on climate change, air quality, and noise, as well as being privately financed, affordable, and delivered in the best interest of consumers.
The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Prime Minister on a wide range of transport matters.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent comments by Sir Howard Davies on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for the need for a third runway at Heathrow; and what plans they have to ask Sir Howard to re-examine the case for a third runway at Heathrow taking into account the impact of (1) changed business practices, (2) greater use of IT on the demand for business travel, and (3) their decision to include aviation emissions in the UK’s (a) carbon budget, and (b) net zero emissions target.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government have always been clear that Heathrow expansion remains 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 will soon be consulting on our ambitious plans to decarbonise aviation in the run up to COP26, setting out how the sector will achieve ‘jet zero’ by 2050.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish an updated economic appraisal of the Airports National Policy Statement.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
We have always been clear that Heathrow expansion remains 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.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the comments of Sir Howard Davies on 15 June 2021, what plans he has to review the Airports National Policy Statement.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
We have always been clear that Heathrow expansion remains 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.
Asked by: Baroness Scott of Needham Market (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Greenhalgh on 19 April (HL Deb, col 1639), what assessment they have made of the need to review the Airports National Policy Statement to bring it into line with domestic and international climate targets.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
On 16 December 2020, the Supreme Court overturned the earlier Court of Appeal decision and declared that the Airports National Policy Statement is lawful. We are carefully considering the Court’s judgement.
The Government 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.
In the coming months, we will launch a consultation setting out the steps to reach net zero aviation emissions by 2050.
Asked by: Theresa Villiers (Conservative - Chipping Barnet)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to oppose a third runway at Heathrow.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
On 16 December 2020 the Supreme Court overturned the earlier Court of Appeal decision and declared that the Airports National Policy Statement is lawful. We are carefully considering the Court’s judgment.
The Government 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.