Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Airport Expansion: Paris Climate Change Agreement

Thursday 12 March 2020 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 4 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government supports airport expansion within environmental obligations
  • Government reviewing complex judgment regarding airport expansion
  • Government committed to working with industry on net zero targets

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Climate
Context

Court of Appeal judgment on the airports national policy statement is complex, prompting questions about future environmental obligations.

Question

Asks why the government does not take the opportunity to address the incompatibility with Paris climate accord and review other planned expansions.

Answer from Kelly Tolhurst (Minister of State for Transport)

The Government are supportive of airport expansion where we can deliver it within our environmental obligations. The Court did not conclude that the expansion is incompatible with climate change, and we are reviewing this complex judgment.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Andy McDonald Lab Hull East
Transport Climate
Context

Inquires about the government's compliance with their commitments under the Paris accord.

Question

Asks if the Government now accept that they must revisit and revise the national policy statement on aviation to comply with the Paris accord, considering the Court's ruling as illegal.

Answer from Kelly Tolhurst (Minister of State for Transport)

The Government have outlined that it is an ongoing legal process. The judgment is complex, but we will update the House as soon as possible on future steps. Yes, the roads programme has been subject to rigorous environmental impact assessments.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Gavin Newlands SNP Paisley and Renfrewshire North
Climate
Context

Asks about the government's commitment to transparency regarding aviation sector challenges.

Question

Questions if the Government will match Scotland's level of transparency on climate change targets, particularly including aircraft emissions.

Answer from Kelly Tolhurst (Minister of State for Transport)

Thanks for his interest. Sustainable Aviation has committed to delivering on its net zero target. The Government are committed to working with the industry to ensure technology and skills can deliver on our targets.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Gavin Newlands SNP Paisley and Renfrewshire North
Transport Brexit
Context

Concerned about the implications of leaving EASA, particularly regarding passenger safety.

Question

Inquires if the Minister realises that leaving EASA is an act of folly as it may take up to a decade and be extremely difficult to recruit necessary expertise.

Answer from Kelly Tolhurst (Minister of State for Transport)

Thanks him for his question. We will see the first electric flight this year, and we have invested £300 million in the future flight challenge fund to ensure technology and skills can deliver on our targets.

Answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not directly address the challenges of leaving EASA regarding passenger safety.

How: Changed Topic

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email