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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Scottish government backs Heathrow expansion | Scottish government backs Heathrow expansion |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Scottish government has said it is backing the plan to add a third runway at London's Heathrow airport. | The Scottish government has said it is backing the plan to add a third runway at London's Heathrow airport. |
| The project has been heavily debated for a number of years, but Scottish ministers have said it offers significant strategic and economic benefits for Scotland. | The project has been heavily debated for a number of years, but Scottish ministers have said it offers significant strategic and economic benefits for Scotland. |
| The government said this would include up to 16,000 new jobs. | The government said this would include up to 16,000 new jobs. |
| Heathrow Airport and the Scottish government will sign a Memorandum of Understanding later. | Heathrow Airport and the Scottish government will sign a Memorandum of Understanding later. |
| This will highlight a number of commitments by Heathrow Airport, including the new jobs. | This will highlight a number of commitments by Heathrow Airport, including the new jobs. |
| If the expansion goes ahead, about £200m would be spent on construction in Scotland, £10m for new domestic routes, and there would be a commitment to investigate Prestwick Airport as a potential site for a logistics hub to support the building of the third runway. | If the expansion goes ahead, about £200m would be spent on construction in Scotland, £10m for new domestic routes, and there would be a commitment to investigate Prestwick Airport as a potential site for a logistics hub to support the building of the third runway. |
| Keith Brown, the cabinet secretary for economy, jobs and fair work, told BBC Radio Scotland that it was the "best deal for Scotland". | |
| Long haul | |
| Speaking on the Good Morning Scotland programme, he said: "In the absence of action from the UK government, we have made this decision and we would urge them to act as quickly as possible." | |
| The UK government said that it will "shortly announce" a decision on airport expansion, with another runway at Gatwick also in the running. | |
| Environmental campaigners, local authorities near Heathrow and some MPs have raised concerns about the project. | Environmental campaigners, local authorities near Heathrow and some MPs have raised concerns about the project. |
| Asked if this was a "green policy", Mr Brown said the expansion of Heathrow could reduce the number of "damaging" short-haul flights from Scotland. | |
| He said the government wanted to attract more long-haul flights to Scotland and many of those passengers would want onward connections to London. | |
| "But if the UK is not to have an international hub airport - and there's real pressure now from Schiphol, and from Istanbul and from Dubai - then the short-haul connections we will have to make will be even more environmentally damaging," he added. | |
| Heathrow Airport has also committed to a reduction of £10 per passenger on landing charges paid by airlines operating services from Heathrow to Scotland from January. | Heathrow Airport has also committed to a reduction of £10 per passenger on landing charges paid by airlines operating services from Heathrow to Scotland from January. |
| This will benefit existing services from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness and incentivise the introduction of new services. | This will benefit existing services from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness and incentivise the introduction of new services. |
| It has also agreed to a significant, long-term marketing campaign at Heathrow to promote Scotland and a procurement event in Glasgow to enhance opportunities for Scottish firms to win business with Tier 1 Heathrow suppliers. | It has also agreed to a significant, long-term marketing campaign at Heathrow to promote Scotland and a procurement event in Glasgow to enhance opportunities for Scottish firms to win business with Tier 1 Heathrow suppliers. |
| 'Strong economic benefits' | 'Strong economic benefits' |
| Mr Brown said: "We have been clear from the start of this process that we wanted the best deal for Scotland and building a third runway at Heathrow provides the most significant benefits to the country's economy and connectivity. | |
| "We have engaged extensively with both airports during this process and considered all options very carefully. Gatwick's proposals are also to be commended. | "We have engaged extensively with both airports during this process and considered all options very carefully. Gatwick's proposals are also to be commended. |
| "However, Heathrow's plan offers significant job creation, major investment opportunities and, crucially, seeks to address how all of Scotland's airports benefit from the new runway capacity when it comes and also in the lead-up period. | "However, Heathrow's plan offers significant job creation, major investment opportunities and, crucially, seeks to address how all of Scotland's airports benefit from the new runway capacity when it comes and also in the lead-up period. |
| "The potential for a logistics hub to be based at Glasgow Prestwick Airport is also an important part of the Heathrow offer. It would support the pre-fabrication of components for the construction phase, with potential for future work beyond the launch of the third runway, bringing strong economic benefits to the airport and the wider Ayrshire economy." | "The potential for a logistics hub to be based at Glasgow Prestwick Airport is also an important part of the Heathrow offer. It would support the pre-fabrication of components for the construction phase, with potential for future work beyond the launch of the third runway, bringing strong economic benefits to the airport and the wider Ayrshire economy." |
| 'More flights' | 'More flights' |
| He added: "Growing the number of direct international air routes to and from Scotland remains a priority for this government, but the proposals from Heathrow offer all our airports a range of benefits that will help them grow passenger numbers and continue to build on their successes." | He added: "Growing the number of direct international air routes to and from Scotland remains a priority for this government, but the proposals from Heathrow offer all our airports a range of benefits that will help them grow passenger numbers and continue to build on their successes." |
| John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Heathrow Airport, said: "An expanded Heathrow would create up to 16,000 jobs in Scotland. | John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Heathrow Airport, said: "An expanded Heathrow would create up to 16,000 jobs in Scotland. |
| "It would facilitate more airlines flying routes to Scottish airports, meaning more flights, more competition and choice for families and businesses across the nation. That also means more visitors to Scotland, more destinations for Scottish tourists and more opportunity for Scottish businesses to reach new export markets. | "It would facilitate more airlines flying routes to Scottish airports, meaning more flights, more competition and choice for families and businesses across the nation. That also means more visitors to Scotland, more destinations for Scottish tourists and more opportunity for Scottish businesses to reach new export markets. |
| "This partnership demonstrates how Heathrow expansion can work for every region and nation of the UK." | "This partnership demonstrates how Heathrow expansion can work for every region and nation of the UK." |