{"id":65429,"date":"2015-12-14T17:01:10","date_gmt":"2015-12-14T17:01:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=edc2e3214f947659ccde482f232bbbe6"},"modified":"2015-12-14T17:01:10","modified_gmt":"2015-12-14T17:01:10","slug":"statement-to-parliament-aviation-capacity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=65429","title":{"rendered":"Statement to Parliament: Aviation capacity"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

With permission Mr Speaker I would like to make a statement about airport policy.<\/p>\n

Aviation is a British success story.<\/p>\n

Today we have the third-largest aviation network in the world \u2014 second only to the US and China. <\/p>\n

But with that success comes challenges.<\/p>\n

Heathrow is full. Gatwick is filling up. <\/p>\n

If no action is taken the entire London system will be full by 2040.<\/p>\n

And yet we need new connections to new cities in new economies. <\/p>\n

There are other challenges too. <\/p>\n

Airports create jobs and opportunities.<\/p>\n

Technology is changing. <\/p>\n

Planes are becoming quieter and more efficient.<\/p>\n

But there is still \u2014 inevitably \u2014 an environmental impact.<\/p>\n

To some, the arguments seem simple.<\/p>\n

Oppose all expansion anywhere. Or back it \u2014 but always somewhere else.<\/p>\n

And yes there are opportunities in the network of national airports, with global connections from cities such as Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle.<\/p>\n

But growth here will come alongside growth in the south-east not instead of it.<\/p>\n

Which is why in September 2012 Sir Howard Davies was asked to lead a commission into the issue.<\/p>\n

Its final report was published less than 6 months ago.<\/p>\n

It made a strong case for expansion in the south-east.<\/p>\n

We have considered that evidence.<\/p>\n

The government accepts the case for expansion.<\/p>\n

And the government accepts the Airports Commission<\/a>\u2019s shortlist of options for expansion.<\/p>\n

We will begin work straight away on preparing the building blocks for an airports national policy statement.<\/p>\n

In line with the Planning Act 2008.<\/p>\n

Putting this new framework in place will be essential groundwork for implementing the decisions we take on capacity, wherever new capacity is to be built.<\/p>\n

And that is the issue I want to turn to now.<\/p>\n

Sir Howard Davies and his team produced a powerful report.<\/p>\n

Heathrow Airport Ltd\u2019s scheme was recommended by the Airports Commission, but all 3 schemes were deemed viable.<\/p>\n

We are continuing to consider all 3 schemes. <\/p>\n

And we want to see action.<\/p>\n

But we must get the next steps right.<\/p>\n

Both for those keen to push ahead with expansion, and for those who will be affected by it.<\/p>\n

So we will undertake a package of further work.<\/p>\n

First, we must deal with air quality.<\/p>\n

I want to build confidence that expansion can take place within the legal limits.<\/p>\n

So we will accept the Environmental Audit Committee\u2019s recommendation to test the commission\u2019s work against the government\u2019s new air quality plan.<\/p>\n

Second, we must deal with the concerns about noise. <\/p>\n

I want to get the best possible outcome on this for local residents. <\/p>\n

So we will engage further with the promoters to make sure the best package of noise mitigation measures are in place.<\/p>\n

Third, we must deal with carbon emissions. <\/p>\n

So we will look at all the measures to mitigate carbon impacts and address the sustainability concerns, particularly during construction.<\/p>\n

Fourth, we must manage the other impacts on local communities.<\/p>\n

I want people who stand to lose their homes to be properly compensated for the impacts of expansion.<\/p>\n

And I want local people to have the best access to the opportunities that expansion will bring, including new jobs and apprenticeships.<\/p>\n

So we will develop detailed community mitigation measures for each of the shortlisted options. <\/p>\n

We expect to conclude this package of work by the summer. <\/p>\n

Critically, this means the timetable for delivering additional capacity set out by Sir Howard does not alter.<\/p>\n

The commission reported that an additional runway would be required by 2030 and we intend to meet that.<\/p>\n

In saying this I am fully aware that some would wish we could go further.<\/p>\n

And others will wish we were not making such progress at all.<\/p>\n

We are prepared for that because I want to get this decision right.<\/p>\n

That means getting the environmental response right. <\/p>\n

And in the meantime getting on with the hard work to build new capacity to the timetable set out by Sir Howard in the commission\u2019s report<\/a><\/p>\n

Mr Speaker, I commend this statement to the House. <\/p>\n

Related documents<\/h2>\n