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Airport Expansion 2025-01-28
28 January 2025
Lead MP
Siân Berry
Debate Type
Urgent Question
Tags
EconomyClimate
Other Contributors: 40
At a Glance
Siân Berry raised concerns about airport expansion 2025-01-28 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Will the Minister confirm the Adoption Fund will continue in light of press reports speculating about government plans to expand London airports, particularly Heathrow with a third runway. The MP is concerned about potential conflicts between airport expansion and climate change targets.
Siân Berry
Green
Brighton Pavilion
Question
The Minister understands expanding London’s airports, especially Heathrow with a third runway, would be irresponsible given climate change targets. The MP raises concerns about the UK breaking the 1.5° warming limit and pursuing an aviation expansion policy despite catastrophic wildfires in California and floods in Spain and the UK.
Minister reply
There is always a trade-off between noise, carbon emissions, and economic growth for airport expansions. Heathrow has operated above capacity, limiting opportunities for growth. The Government introduced a sustainable aviation fuel mandate requiring 2% of all fuel sourced from January to come from renewable sources. A revenue certainty mechanism will be introduced in the next few months to create a world-class SAF industry in the UK.
Ruth Cadbury
Lab
Brentford and Isleworth
Question
A third runway at Heathrow has implications for UK-wide growth, carbon commitments, and noise pollution affecting 600,000 people. The MP asks if the announcement should be made in the context of a national aviation strategy and when will it be seen.
Minister reply
The airports national planning framework needs updating, which we will bring forward soon as part of our package. Expansion proposals need to demonstrate economic growth, compatibility with climate change targets, and meet strict environmental standards for air quality and noise pollution.
Gareth Bacon
Con
Orpington
Question
The MP questions the assessment of building a third runway at Heathrow on M25 and M4 motorways, support from affected communities, cost estimates, and assurances about development consent orders.
Minister reply
There is no DCO before us for Heathrow or related party to bring forward. Transport policy should enable growth as a priority in this country.
John McDonnell
Ind
Hayes and Harlington
Question
The MP questions if the Department has provided an assessment of where 8,000 to 10,000 people will live if their homes are demolished or rendered unliveable due to Heathrow expansion. The MP also asks about flightpaths of additional planes flying over marginal seats and outdated economic benefits figures.
Minister reply
There is no DCO at the moment and we do not know the impact—that will be a matter for Heathrow or a third party to bring forward.
Andy Slaughter
Lab
Hammersmith and Chiswick
Question
Does the Minister agree that there is no chance of spades in the ground this Parliament for a third runway at Heathrow?
Minister reply
There is currently no development consent order for Heathrow, so we will wait to see if one comes forward. We are committed to growth and decarbonizing aviation through investments like £63 million to the advanced fuels fund.
Roger Gale
Con
Herne Bay and Sandwich
Question
Can the Minister assure me that Manston airport in Kent will be part of the growth programme?
Minister reply
We are waiting for a development consent order to see if Manston can become an exciting opportunity, particularly for cargo with zero emission vessels shipping content into the port of London.
Rupa Huq
Lab
Ealing Central and Acton
Question
Will the Minister balance economic growth against environmental impacts when considering any expansion at Heathrow?
Minister reply
There is a trade-off between noise, carbon and growing our economy. We must balance these factors to create high-paid jobs while addressing environmental concerns.
David Simmonds
Con
Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
Question
Will any future DCO for Heathrow be subject to the same rigour as previous ones regarding consultation?
Minister reply
Yes, I can assure that any development consent order will be subjected to rigorous scrutiny. We are investing in sustainable aviation fuels and technologies to clean up aviation fuel.
Danny Beales
Lab
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Question
Does the Minister agree that future applications for Heathrow expansion must address logistical challenges and climate commitments?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right, our four tests remain and any application must pass these.
Sarah Olney
LD
Richmond Park
Question
What new economic analysis have the Government considered to make a third runway at Heathrow viable?
Minister reply
Capacity in London is currently 76% on average, and we are investing heavily in aviation technology. We want people to fly for business and leisure.
Clive Efford
Lab
Eltham and Chislehurst
Question
If we proceed with Heathrow's third runway, must we satisfy ourselves that issues like air quality and surface access are addressed?
Minister reply
Those tests must be met through the development consent order. I voted for the framework in 2018 because it passed those tests.
Alec Shelbrooke
Con
Wetherby and Easingwold
Question
May I urge the Minister to give firm attention to regional airports, especially Leeds Bradford airport, when considering Heathrow's expansion?
Minister reply
We are committed to growing the economy through aviation. We will consider all applications rigorously.
Jeremy Corbyn
Ind
Islington North
Question
In order to meet the problem of increasing demand for flights, what are the Government doing to improve rail connections with western Europe, including direct trains to Germany as well as Holland?
Minister reply
We should be ambitious as a country that we can tap into that network. The right hon. Gentleman is right on this matter.
Chi Onwurah
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Question
Given that air travel’s 5% of emissions are dwarfed by road travel emissions, does the Minister agree that the important work that his Department is doing to promote electric vehicles and the work that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is doing on the decarbonisation of the electricity network is fundamental to demonstrating to my constituents that addressing climate change is not about saying no to travel and transport, but about saying yes to an economy that works for people and the planet?
Minister reply
We have made tough decisions about the phasing out of internal combustion engines up to 2030. When I visited Newcastle airport, I saw a wonderful operation—it is also producing solar energy to power its operation.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
Are the Government consulting their Back Benchers about the possibility of aviation and airport expansion versus net zero? If so, will they be advising them to clean up what they have said on this subject on the internet before it is hoovered up by the Opposition in preparation for the next general election?
Minister reply
There has been a lot of AI news in the press today. I say gently to the right hon. Gentleman that I grew up under a flightpath in my home town in Wythenshawe and Sale East. I grew up under the BAC-111s, the Tridents, the Concordes and the Guppys.
Nick Smith
Lab
Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
Question
Will the Minister please say more about the Government’s sustainable aviation plans and the use of low-carbon tech to help economic growth?
Minister reply
There is £63 million for the advanced fuels fund and £1 billion for the Aerospace Technology Institute to look at net zero emissions. We have already introduced—the SAF mandate, so this year 2% of all fuel will have to be from a sustainable source.
Esher and Walton
Question
Is the Minister going to ignore the health impacts of a third runway?
Minister reply
I cannot comment on the third runway because there is no development consent order before us, but the hon. Lady makes an extraordinarily valid point about noise.
Chris Vince
Lab/Co-op
Harlow
Question
Does the Minister agree that sustainable aviation fuel is vital to achieving our decarbonisation targets?
Minister reply
Sustainable aviation fuel is vital to meeting our climate targets. I commend Manchester Airports Group, which includes Stansted and East Midlands, and Manchester in my own constituency, on its work to decarbonise.
Andrew Murrison
Con
South West Wiltshire
Question
Does the Minister agree that one of the many benefits of a third runway at Heathrow is that it would require the removal of one of the largest waste incinerators in the country? When this matter comes before him, will he ensure that there is no reprovisioning of this monster in a densely populated area, but that we see its deletion altogether so that we deal with waste in a truly sustainable way?
Minister reply
There is no DCO currently. If one comes forward, I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will make his voice heard.
Toby Perkins
Lab
Chesterfield
Question
What changes will we make to ensure that any airport expansion plans are in line with our environmental commitments? Can he explain more about what the offsets will be to ensure that the Government are able to meet the commitments that he has confirmed they will make?
Minister reply
The Government have committed to delivering greener transport, including through SAF, airspace modernisation and the other measures that I laid out. I am proud of that range of measures.
Edinburgh West
Question
How will he make the airspace management plan fit with any forthcoming emissions and capacity management framework?
Minister reply
I am generally very grateful for the Liberal Democrats’ support for airspace modernisation. It is complicated and difficult.
Jo White
Lab
Bassetlaw
Question
Will the Minister put his shoulder to our campaign? The reopening of Doncaster airport has been a long-fought campaign that has the backing of my constituents in Bassetlaw. Today, they will be saying: “Bring the flights and the infrastructure to our area.”
Minister reply
I welcome this Government’s commitment to the aviation sector.
Jonathan Brash
Lab
Hartlepool
Question
Does the Minister agree that if expanding transport infrastructure in this country is the key to growth, that growth must happen everywhere?
Minister reply
I agree. As I have said, airports that make the right decisions in the next few years on improving the airspace and improving their connectivity through surface access all have the potential to grow like my airport has grown exponentially.
Adrian Ramsay
Green
Waveney Valley
Question
Is expanding aviation capacity not a matter of fairness? It will facilitate the very richest, who are already frequent flyers, to be able to fly more, while the noise, carbon emissions and air pollution impacts will be inflicted on the most ordinary people in society.
Minister reply
I think it was Woody Allen who said that 80% of success in life is turning up, and I must gently ask once again where the hon. Gentleman was when we were introducing the sustainable aviation mandate in this House.
Sally Jameson
Lab/Co-op
Doncaster Central
Question
Does the Minister agree that it is important to also support regional airports in the north, including Doncaster airport? The reopening of the airport is supported by all my neighbouring parliamentary colleagues.
Minister reply
I have to say, my hon. Friend is so tenacious on this matter that I sometimes go pale when I meet her in the Division Lobby, because every day she asks after it.
John Milne
LD
Horsham
Question
Will the Minister confirm what compensating measures the Government will take, if airport expansion is to go ahead, to ensure adherence to carbon budgets?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his considered approach in all these matters. I was pleased to receive him at the Department the other day to talk about a particular constituency issue that related to Gatwick.
Mid Sussex
Question
Given that the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Orpington (Gareth Bacon), and the Minister have both asserted that growth is an inevitable consequence of airport expansion, can I ask the Minister what evidence he has to support that assertion?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Lady for her question, but I do not think I will take any lectures from Liberal Democrat Members about sitting on the fence.
Peter Swallow
Lab
Bracknell
Question
Will the Minister assure me that any plans to upgrade airports will be part of the overall picture of an integrated plan?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is exactly right. I am not usually quite so divisive at the Dispatch Box, but we inherited such a broken system it is almost untrue.
Lisa Smart
LD
Hazel Grove
Question
What update can the Minister give my constituents on surface access improvements at Manchester airport, so that they can get to and from the airport, whether as passengers or to work, by bus or by train?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is right that Manchester airport is in my constituency. Mine is actually the most visited constituency in the north of England; in fact, 30 million people visited it last year alone.
Laurence Turner
Lab
Birmingham Northfield
Question
Does the Minister agree that redirection of that pent-up demand to Schiphol and Dubai is no good for the national accounts and no good for the environment?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. He is a very good campaigner for his local airport and for the public service obligation flights out of that airport.
South Devon
Question
Will the Minister explain how the Government can justify prioritising airport expansion over much-needed substantial investment in green travel and public transport, which would benefit the economy in the long term?
Minister reply
I am hearing that Members on the Liberal Democrat Benches are against wealthy people and against our constituents flying.
Mike Kane
Conservative Party
Birkenhead
Question
Is it not right that we build hub capacity in this country because it is the best thing to do environmentally?
Minister reply
Absolutely, building hub capacity in the UK will improve connectivity and support business growth. It also addresses environmental concerns by promoting cleaner aviation fuels and technologies.
Sammy Wilson
DUP
East Antrim
Question
Given the need for hub airports to export goods, build business links, and give people personal freedom to travel, is he concerned about investor confidence in UK projects due to net zero commitments?
Minister reply
Investor confidence remains high. We are committed to ensuring that aviation growth aligns with decarbonisation goals by investing in sustainable technologies and measures.
John Slinger
Lab
Rugby
Question
Does the Minister agree it is irresponsible to delay decisions on airport expansion when this country needs growth?
Minister reply
Agreeing with the need for decisive action, we aim to balance economic growth and decarbonisation through strategic investments in aviation infrastructure.
Bath
Question
What impact assessment has been made of the cumulative effect of additional carbon emissions from proposed airport expansion plans?
Minister reply
The current technology does not fully decarbonise aviation, but we are investing in hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuels to reduce emissions. We will also use carbon capture technologies to offset these emissions.
Mark Sewards
Lab
Leeds South West and Morley
Question
What measures will ensure that all regions benefit from the proceeds of growth generated by airport expansion?
Minister reply
We are improving capacity at five northern runways, spreading economic benefits across the UK. We also support logistic hubs in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Harpenden and Berkhamsted
Question
Can he guarantee that the Government will listen to climate experts and have a framework in place before any airport expansion?
Minister reply
Yes, we are developing a policy framework to ensure environmental obligations are fully considered. We will update our approach soon.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
Will the Minister confirm that environmental obligations have been fully considered in decisions regarding potential Heathrow expansion?
Minister reply
Our airspace modernisation policy can reduce carbon emissions by 10-30% through more efficient flight paths. This benefits both the environment and passenger experience.
Luke Taylor
LD
Sutton and Cheam
Question
What efforts are being made to engage industry in developing truly zero-carbon power plants, and how does this address noise concerns?
Minister reply
We are investing in hydrogen technology and sustainable aviation fuels. Our ATI fund worth £1 billion supports these initiatives and aims to bring about job growth across the UK.
Government Response
I know that the hon. Member feels passionately about the issue of airport expansion, but I would like to make it clear that the press stories that have generated this urgent question are speculative and I cannot comment on their contents. The Government are committed to securing the long-term future of the aviation sector in the UK, which directly provided around 240,000 jobs and contributed approximately £25 billion to gross domestic product in 2023. Any airport expansion proposals must demonstrate economic growth, compatibility with climate change commitments, and meet strict environmental standards. There is currently no live development consent order application for a third runway at Heathrow, but the Government would carefully consider any such application according to relevant planning processes. The Secretary of State is considering advice on Luton and Gatwick airport expansions.
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