Heathrow expansion 'must be within carbon budget', says top minister
Top government figures appear at odds on airport expansion, including a proposed third runway at Heathrow.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has indicated she will back expansion of Heathrow via a third runway, plus more development at Gatwick and Luton.
She has previously said: “When the last government faced difficult decisions about whether to support infrastructure investment, the answer always seemed to be no. We can’t carry on like that, because if we do, we will miss out on crucial investment here into Britain.”
Reeves is due to give a key speech on Wednesday (29 January) in which she is tipped to voice her support for Heathrow’s plans.
However, this is likely to be at odds with energy and net zero secretary Ed Miliband, who this week told parliament: “I just want to sort of provide this element of reassurance to you, which is 100% any aviation expansion must be justified within carbon budgets, and if it can’t be justified, it won’t go ahead."
Miliband has been a vocal opponent of Heathrow expansion in the past. However, he stressed: “This government sees no contradiction between net zero and economic growth, we believe they go absolutely hand-in-hand.”
Heathrow consistently operates at 99% capacity, with some believing a third runway will solve the issue of aircraft circling for considerable times before being given permission to land, particularly in poor weather.
Reeves told the BBC on Sunday a third runway at Heathrow "will mean that instead of circling London, flights can land" and that sustainable fuel was changing the carbon emissions from flying.
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Gary Noakes
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