| Synopsis: |
Aviation is important to the UK economy. Regional airports are important for regional economic growth and transport and Heathrow is a major European hub airport (but only six UK cities have flights into it). There is a need to improve direct access to Heathrow from the national rail network in order to maximize the economic benefits and to reduce the environmental impacts. The UK's major airports, particularly Heathrow, should be connected to any future high-speed rail system. In view of the economic benefits to the UK, the Committee endorses the Government's support for a third runway at Heathrow, subject to the effective application of tough environmental conditions. However, it questions the need for a second runway at Stansted and asks ministers to reconsider whether Gatwick might prove to be a better location for expansion after 2019. With regard to the need for curbing pollution from aviation, the Committee calls for higher environmental standards to reduce CO2, air pollution and noise. For carbon emissions the Committee sets out a number of principles that it believes should be applied to future UK policy in this area.The Committee also calls for older and noisier planes to be promptly taken out of use. The Committee also looked at the importance of Air Passenger Duty (APD), but is concerned that the vulnerability of the aviation industry in the current economic climate is considered and account taken of competition from other European airports. Clarification of revenue from aviation taxes is needed. |