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Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) Thursday Volume 530 23 June 2011 No. 176 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 23 June 2011 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2011 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through The National Archives website at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/our-services/parliamentary-licence-information.htm Enquiries to The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] 453 23 JUNE 2011 454 Mr Hammond: As I said, my right hon. Friend the House of Commons Chancellor has conducted a consultation on the future of APD and he has made it clear that any changes to Thursday 23 June 2011 the system would have to be broadly revenue-neutral. I do not know whether my hon. Friend submitted his The House met at half-past Ten o’clock suggestion during the course of the consultation, but if not, I am sure that the Chancellor would be prepared to PRAYERS take it as a late entry. [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North) (DUP): Does not the Secretary of State agree that the competitiveness of Belfast airports is gravely impinged by the fact that Oral Answers to Questions APD is levied at £120 for a return on business-class long-haul flights from Belfast, while 90 miles down the road in Dublin, it is ¤3 going down to zero. Clearly, as TRANSPORT far as Northern Ireland is concerned, there is a strong case for looking at the issue of APD. The Secretary of State was asked— Mr Hammond: Once again, I am certain that the right hon. Gentleman will have submitted his views to the Airports Chancellor in the consultation to which I just referred. 1. Mike Freer (Finchley and Golders Green) (Con): What recent representations he has received on the Maria Eagle (Garston and Halewood) (Lab): Britain’s competitiveness of UK airports. [61505] business community finds it incredible that the Government have no intention to bring forward a proper strategy for The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Philip aviation and UK airports for the next two years. Opposition Hammond): I regularly receive representations from the Members believe that any expansion in aviation must be aviation industry and other stakeholders on a range of sustainable, but is it not a nonsense for the Government issues relating to UK airports. to rule out any expansion in the south-east, regardless of whether or not it can be demonstrated to be sustainable. Mike Freer: I thank the Secretary of State for that Is not the chief executive of London First right when answer. He may be aware that some have suggested a she warns that this failure is congestion levy on south-east airports to fund a discount on air passenger duty in regional airports. What assessment “damaging our economy and enhancing that of our EU rivals”? has he made of the competitiveness of south-east airports in view of this ludicrous suggestion? Mr Hammond: The hon. Lady is right that we have a big challenge in relation to aviation growth in the south-east. Mr Hammond: I think my hon. Friend’s question What I did not hear her do was repeat Labour’s policy betrays the fact that he has already made his own to build a third runway at Heathrow airport. Perhaps at assessment. I believe that this suggestion was made in a some stage she could tell the House whether that remains response by regional airports to a consultation on APD Labour’s policy. The coalition Government cancelled conducted by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor. No the third runway at Heathrow because of the unacceptable doubt the Chancellor will respond to those suggestions environmental burden that it imposed, but we are committed in due course. to developing a new and sustainable aviation strategy that will allow the growth of aviation in the UK—but Graham Stringer (Blackley and Broughton) (Lab): I only when it meets its environmental obligations. think it is an excellent suggestion. There is huge capacity in the regional airports and since there has been complete freedom to fly anywhere in Europe, it has been difficult Motorway Speed Limits for Governments to use that capacity. Does the Secretary of State have any ideas how that extra capacity in 2. Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con): What regional airports can be used to the benefit of the UK recent representations he has received on varying economy? national motorway speed limits. [61506] Mr Hammond: The hon. Gentleman is absolutely The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport right: there is significant capacity in our regional airport (Mike Penning): My ministerial colleagues and I have runways. We have to recognise that the demand for received a variety of representations, including via the aviation growth in the UK is not just an aggregate red tape challenge to the highways regulations, on the demand—it has a certain geographical distribution—but subject of varying the motorway speed limit. The issue I am keen that the regional airports play a role in raises interesting aspects of our current behaviour, and meeting that demand. I believe that the high-speed rail we will continue to look at it. project will help them to do so. Mr John Leech (Manchester, Withington) (LD): As Stephen Mosley: The maximum motorway speed limit part of the review, will the Secretary of State discuss in several European countries, including France, Italy with the Treasury the viability of having an APD holiday and Germany, is currently greater than 80 mph. In for new long-haul routes from regional airports to order to help deliver the economic benefit of reduced improve their competitiveness with south-east airports journey time, will my hon. Friend consider increasing and airports on the continent? the motorway speed limit to 80 mph? 455 Oral Answers23 JUNE 2011 Oral Answers 456 Mike Penning: The existing limit has been in place cause congestion and adversely affect business. We are since the ’60s. We will weigh up safety and environmental keen to take steps to improve matters, including by aspects against enforcement—although we all know developing regulations to allow targeted lane rental that 70 mph is not being enforced—and how increasing schemes, cutting red tape from the private scheme approval the speed limit to 80 mph would help the country to process, and considering utility works overrun charges. grow in infrastructure. We will look at the balance in those areas. Swindon to Kemble Railway 4. Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con): When he expects Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Limehouse) (Lab): In the Swindon to Kemble railway redoubling project to assessing the impact on safety of increasing motorway commence. [61508] speed limits, does the Minister agree that another potential consequence will be our ability to meet our carbon The Minister of State, Department for Transport dioxide emission targets? Has he received any (Mrs Theresa Villiers): Network Rail has commenced representations from his right hon. Friend the Secretary design work, and I expect implementation to start in of State for Energy and Climate Change who, as we 2012-13, with completion by 2014-15 ahead of electrification know, is something of an expert on these matters? works on the Great Western main line in 2016-17. Mike Penning: I have great respect for the hon. Neil Carmichael: Does the Minister agree that this is Gentleman, who had my job before me, but he should an example of intelligent investment to promote economic have listened to the answer I gave a few moments ago growth? It will be great news for Gloucestershire, and before reading out his prepared question. We will balance stands in complete contrast to the failure of the last the environmental aspects against the safety aspects, Labour Government to provide any support of this and also take into account the legislative process and kind to the railway system. whether or not we can get Britain moving better. Mrs Villiers: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his Dr Julian Huppert (Cambridge) (LD): May I press question. He and many of his colleagues in the House the Minister a little further? What analysis has he done have fought a hard campaign for redoubling, and I am delighted that the coalition can deliver that. In addition, of the extra fuel usage and CO2 emissions that would result from increasing the speed limit from 70 to 80? the introduction of intercity express programme trains should lead to reductions in journey times and to frequent Mike Penning: The hon. Gentleman should also have services, which will benefit the economy in his constituency listened to what I said. I did not say that we had and surrounding areas. conducted the consultation; I said we would balance Mr Robert Buckland (South Swindon) (Con): My various aspects during the consultation, and I am sure right hon. Friend will know that local businesses, local he would like to take part in that consultation and in MPs—including me—and the local authority in Swindon our discussion about what is the right balance. would like to see the development of a branch station on the Kemble line at Sparcells. What advice and Urban Traffic encouragement can she give to me and to local agencies on the development of that station? 3. Mr John Spellar (Warley) (Lab): What steps he is taking to improve the flow of traffic in urban areas. Mrs Villiers: My hon. Friend has also fought a hard [61507] campaign to improve rail services in his area. My advice in respect of that project would be to continue to The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport engage closely with the local authority, which has the (Norman Baker): We are providing local authorities leading role in taking forward and funding such projects, with the right tools and the freedom to use them effectively.
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