Thursday Volume 511 17 June 2010 No. 17 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 17 June 2010 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2010 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through the Office of Public Sector Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/ Enquiries to the Office of Public Sector Information, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] 1001 17 JUNE 2010 1002 The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Philip House of Commons Hammond): I have not discussed the expansion of Heathrow with business representatives since my appointment, as Thursday 17 June 2010 we have made it clear that we will not support a third runway at Heathrow. This Government’s focus is on making Heathrow better not bigger. The House met at half-past Ten o’clock Mr Hanson: I welcome the Secretary of State to his PRAYERS position. I do not always agree with the CBI, but it has joined the Trades Union Congress and unions across London to say that the expansion of Heathrow is good [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] for business and for London. Will the right hon. Gentleman therefore be careful that, in taking his stance—I recognise that it is one of integrity—he does not end up exporting BUSINESS BEFORE QUESTIONS jobs and business from London to Munich, Frankfurt and Paris? CANTERBURY CITY COUNCIL BILL Motion made, Mr Hammond: As the right hon. Gentleman knows, That so much of the Lords Message [10 June] as relates to the both parties in the coalition campaigned before the Canterbury City Council Bill be now considered. ––(The Chairman general election on a clear commitment to scrap the of Ways and Means.) third runway at Heathrow.However, we are not anti-aviation Hon. Members: Object. and, earlier this week, I set up a working group to To be considered on Thursday 24 June. consider aviation in the south-east and to work with all the stakeholders, including representatives of business, the airlines and people who work at the airport to LEEDS CITY COUNCIL BILL ascertain how we can make aviation in the south-east Ordered, work better within the constraints of existing runway That so much of the Lords Message [10 June] as relates to the capacity. Leeds City Council Bill be now considered. That the promoters of the Leeds City Council Bill, which was originally introduced in this House in Session 2008–09 on 22 January Angie Bray (Ealing Central and Acton) (Con): The 2008, may have leave to proceed with the Bill in the current people of Ealing Central and Acton were delighted by Session according to the provisions of Standing Order 188B the decision to scrap the third runway. Does my right (Revival of bills).––(The Chairman of Ways and Means.) hon. Friend agree that if the third runway had gone ahead, it would have imposed intolerable extra blight NOTTINGHAM CITY COUNCIL BILL on those who live in west London? Motion made, That so much of the Lords Message [10 June] as relates to the Mr Hammond: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Nottingham City Council Bill be now considered. ––(The Chairman When considering airport expansion, we must look at of Ways and Means.) not only the economic benefits but the local environmental burdens and the impact on this Government’s and the Hon. Members: Object. previous Government’s commitments to CO reduction. To be considered on Thursday 24 June. 2 Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Limehouse) (Lab): I, READING BOROUGH COUNCIL BILL too, welcome the Secretary of State to his new position. Ordered, I also welcome his comments about undertaking a That so much of the Lords Message [10 June] as relates to the review of aviation policy in the south-east because that Reading Borough Council Bill be now considered. suggests that the economic case has not been forgotten. That the promoters of the Reading Borough Council Bill, Does he agree that, as my right hon. Friend the Member which was originally introduced in this House in Session 2008–09 for Delyn (Mr Hanson) said, when there is spare capacity on 22 January 2008, may have leave to proceed with the Bill in the current Session according to the provisions of Standing Order in Paris, Schiphol and Frankfurt, and Dubai has built 188B (Revival of bills).––(The Chairman of Ways and Means.) six runways, we run the risk of being disadvantaged not only by the rest of Europe, but by being bypassed by planes flying straight to the Americas from Asia through Oral Answers to Questions Dubai? Mr Hammond: Heathrow is Britain’s premier hub airport and we intend to ensure that it remains a major TRANSPORT hub airport. We want to work with business and other stakeholders to ensure that Heathrow becomes better, not bigger and that we protect its status. The Secretary of State was asked— Dartford Crossing Heathrow Airport 1. Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab): What recent 2. Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con): If he will discussions he has had with business representatives on take steps to reduce congestion at the Dartford the expansion of Heathrow airport. [2710] crossing. [2711] 1003 Oral Answers17 JUNE 2010 Oral Answers 1004 The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport impact of empty flights. Unfortunately, that is another (Mike Penning): The Department and the Highways negative consequence of the industrial dispute and another Agency are committed to improving the levels of service reason why I urge the parties to get back round the table experienced by users of the Dartford crossing. The to ensure that it is resolved as soon as possible to Highways Agency and I will consider a package of prevent a recurrence. measures, including better information and traffic management to help reduce the congestion at the Dartford Concessionary Bus Fares crossing. 4. Clive Efford (Eltham) (Lab): What plans he has for Mr Whittingdale: I thank my hon. Friend for that the future of the national concessionary bus fare answer, but is he aware that, since the tolls increased, scheme. [2713] the delays when approaching the tolling booths are anything up to 45 minutes and more? That causes The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport enormous frustration to those who use the crossing, (Norman Baker): The Government’s commitment to which is increased by the fact that the original intention protect free bus travel for older people is set out in the was to scrap the tolls once the bridge was paid for rather coalition agreement. The right to free bus travel for than to put them up. both older and disabled people is enshrined in primary legislation. Mike Penning: My hon. Friend knows that I am personally aware of the problems at the Dartford crossing, Clive Efford: Will the hon. Gentleman be the having used it for many years. The £40 million net that Government’s conscience on the freedom pass, because we recover from the crossing is a significant income, but when one looks at all the people who have tried to we need to consider technology that is being used in undermine it in the past, one realises that they have all other parts of the world, particularly in Australia, so been Conservatives. They have described the pass as a that we can remove the barriers and increase the speed stealth tax, or said that it goes to the wrong people. at which traffic comes through while also picking up the Would it be a resigning issue for him if the scheme were revenue that the country desperately needs. to be watered down in any way, and will he keep a weather eye out for those nasty colleagues of his who Airlines (Industrial Action) always try to undermine the freedom pass? 3. Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion) (Green): What Norman Baker: It is something of a record to ask a information his Department holds on the effect of Minister whether he might consider resigning when he industrial action involving airlines on the number of is answering his first departmental question. I am happy passengers on flights operated by those airlines. [2712] to assure the hon. Gentleman that the coalition—both parties—are committed to free bus travel for older The Minister of State, Department for Transport people, as I set out. Indeed, that is enshrined in primary (Mrs Theresa Villiers): The Department does not routinely legislation, so I think that his fears are groundless. monitor or hold information on airline passenger loads. However, most publicly listed UK airlines, including Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con): The previous British Airways, regularly publish traffic and capacity Labour Government reduced the grant for the bus statistics. concessionary scheme in London by some £25 million quite late on in the process. Will the Minister confirm Caroline Lucas: Is the right hon. Lady aware of that the coalition will not do anything similar to the testimony from British Airways staff that British Airways council tax payers of London? has run commercially unviable flights in periods of industrial action, with low to zero numbers of passengers, Norman Baker: We have no plans to revisit the settlement to give the impression that it is unaffected by industrial for this year. action? Will you condemn any carrier for such environmentally unsustainable behaviour and investigate Mr William Bain (Glasgow North East) (Lab): I any report from BA staff? welcome the Minister and his colleagues to their appointments, and we wish them well in their Mr Speaker: I will neither condemn nor investigate, responsibilities. It is hard not to notice that the Department but the Minister might.