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Jet Zero Council — [Mrs Maria Miller in the Chair]

14 October 2020

Lead MP

Andrew Selous
South West Bedfordshire
Con

Responding Minister

Robert Courts

Tags

EconomyClimateEnergy
Word Count: 12942
Other Contributors: 7

At a Glance

Andrew Selous raised concerns about jet zero council — [mrs maria miller in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key Requests to Government:

The government should consider an airline scrappage scheme to encourage airlines to buy less polluting jets when available and take more polluting models out of service.

How the Debate Unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:

Lead Contributor

South West Bedfordshire
Opened the debate
The UK has the third biggest global aviation network and contributes more than £52 billion a year to GDP. Due to the pandemic, there has been a significant reduction in flights but passenger numbers are expected to recover by 2023-24 or earlier. The challenge is reconciling the projected increase in demand with the legally binding net zero target for 2050. Sustainable aviation fuels and electric/hydrogen technologies have potential solutions but require investment.

Government Response

Robert Courts
Government Response
Discussed the UK's commitment to reducing carbon emissions through initiatives like the Jet Zero Council. Highlighted ongoing programmes such as the Aerospace Technology Institute with £1.95 billion funding and Future Flight Challenge with £125 million investment. Mentioned potential economic benefits of sustainable aviation fuels, including a market worth between £0.7-£1.7 billion annually by 2040 and creation of up to 11,000 green jobs.
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy

About Westminster Hall Debates

Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.