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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| MPs 'unsure' over Stansted runway | MPs 'unsure' over Stansted runway |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Consideration should be given to building an extra runway at Gatwick rather than Stansted, MPs have said. | |
| The Commons Transport Committee said it was "not convinced" a national case for another Stansted runway had been made. | The Commons Transport Committee said it was "not convinced" a national case for another Stansted runway had been made. |
| It supported Heathrow's expansion but called for assurances that the west London airport would be linked to other major airports by high-speed rail. | It supported Heathrow's expansion but called for assurances that the west London airport would be linked to other major airports by high-speed rail. |
| Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband insisted Heathrow expansion would go alongside tackling global warming. | |
| The government said its position on Gatwick and Stansted was unchanged. | The government said its position on Gatwick and Stansted was unchanged. |
| In January, ministers gave the go-ahead for a third runway at Heathrow, saying it was right for the UK. | In January, ministers gave the go-ahead for a third runway at Heathrow, saying it was right for the UK. |
| That move was opposed by environmentalists and people living by the flightpath. | That move was opposed by environmentalists and people living by the flightpath. |
| The runway is expected to be finished by about 2019, but the transport committee voiced concerns about a "lack of clarity" on the timescale for completion. | The runway is expected to be finished by about 2019, but the transport committee voiced concerns about a "lack of clarity" on the timescale for completion. |
| It also said it was unlikely the airport would become a hub airport for many UK cities. | It also said it was unlikely the airport would become a hub airport for many UK cities. |
| We must also reform perverse taxes like APD (Air Passenger Duty), which taxes full aircraft more than empty aircraft. How daft is that? Andy Harrison, Easyjet chief executive | We must also reform perverse taxes like APD (Air Passenger Duty), which taxes full aircraft more than empty aircraft. How daft is that? Andy Harrison, Easyjet chief executive |
| Committee chairman Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, said aviation was important to the regions as well as south-east England. | Committee chairman Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, said aviation was important to the regions as well as south-east England. |
| "Heathrow is a major European hub airport but only six UK cities have flights into it," she said. | "Heathrow is a major European hub airport but only six UK cities have flights into it," she said. |
| "Even with expansion, we need to improve direct access to Heathrow from the national rail network in order to maximise the economic benefits and to reduce the environmental impacts." | "Even with expansion, we need to improve direct access to Heathrow from the national rail network in order to maximise the economic benefits and to reduce the environmental impacts." |
| On Stansted, the committee report said it was unlikely a second runway could be completed at the Essex airport before 2019, the year when the current restriction on a second runway at Gatwick expires. | On Stansted, the committee report said it was unlikely a second runway could be completed at the Essex airport before 2019, the year when the current restriction on a second runway at Gatwick expires. |
| "The government should reconsider whether the additional runway, if required, should be located at Gatwick rather than Stansted," it said. | "The government should reconsider whether the additional runway, if required, should be located at Gatwick rather than Stansted," it said. |
| The MPs also said they wanted the government to say how much the aviation industry was being taxed. | The MPs also said they wanted the government to say how much the aviation industry was being taxed. |
| They raised concerns over the way the industry was being left to the "vagaries of the market". | They raised concerns over the way the industry was being left to the "vagaries of the market". |
| And they urged caution over setting the level of the air passenger duty airport departure tax at a time when the industry is particularly vulnerable. | And they urged caution over setting the level of the air passenger duty airport departure tax at a time when the industry is particularly vulnerable. |
| Old planes | Old planes |
| Easyjet chief executive Andy Harrison, one of the witnesses who gave evidence to the committee, said the key to sustainable aviation was technology, not taxation. | Easyjet chief executive Andy Harrison, one of the witnesses who gave evidence to the committee, said the key to sustainable aviation was technology, not taxation. |
| "This means setting minimum standards for aircraft emissions to force airlines to use the most modern aircraft and to force aircraft manufacturers to bring forward the next generation of aircraft much sooner. | "This means setting minimum standards for aircraft emissions to force airlines to use the most modern aircraft and to force aircraft manufacturers to bring forward the next generation of aircraft much sooner. |
| "We must also reform perverse taxes like APD (Air Passenger Duty), which taxes full aircraft more than empty aircraft. How daft is that?" he said. | "We must also reform perverse taxes like APD (Air Passenger Duty), which taxes full aircraft more than empty aircraft. How daft is that?" he said. |
| Other suggestions made in the MPs' report included: | Other suggestions made in the MPs' report included: |
| • The Civil Aviation Authority's Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Atol) system levy to be raised and extended to cover all international flights as well as package holidays. | • The Civil Aviation Authority's Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Atol) system levy to be raised and extended to cover all international flights as well as package holidays. |
| • Higher environmental standards to reduce carbon emissions, air pollution and noise. | • Higher environmental standards to reduce carbon emissions, air pollution and noise. |
| • Old and noisy planes to be taken out of use promptly. | • Old and noisy planes to be taken out of use promptly. |
| Mr Miliband said it would be possible to reduce the UK's overall carbon footprint by stabilising aviation emissions and going further in other areas such as energy and the household sector. | |
| He added: "We've said that we cannot allow aviation to carry on growing in an unconstrained way, but nor is it realistic to say we're simply going to stop people flying." | |
| The Department for Transport welcomed the committee's endorsement of government backing for a third runway at Heathrow and its views on the need for good connections between Heathrow and high speed rail. | The Department for Transport welcomed the committee's endorsement of government backing for a third runway at Heathrow and its views on the need for good connections between Heathrow and high speed rail. |
| A department spokesman said HS2, the company preparing the high speed rail plan, has been asked to recommend a north-south line with options for connections to Heathrow. | A department spokesman said HS2, the company preparing the high speed rail plan, has been asked to recommend a north-south line with options for connections to Heathrow. |
| On expansion at Gatwick and Stansted, he added that the government's position remained unchanged. | On expansion at Gatwick and Stansted, he added that the government's position remained unchanged. |