Following our letter to David Burton-Sampson, please see below his response:
Thank you for contacting me about airport expansion and the need for urgent action on tackling the climate crisis. I would also like to thank you for sharing the fact sheet with me.
On climate action, I agree with you on the gravity of the situation. Last year was the hottest on record, the first to pass 1.5°C above the pre-industrial average. This should be an alarm call for all of us.
I therefore welcome that since coming to office, the Government has already introduced a world-leading agenda on climate and nature action, making rapid progress and overturning the legacy of the previous Government, which left the country, as the Climate Change Committee confirmed last July, off track to meet our climate goals.
I welcome, for example, the Government’s ambitious mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower – delivering clean power by 2030 and accelerating to net zero across the economy. And I back the crucial steps it has already taken towards getting us back on course, including removing the ban on onshore wind in England, committing over £20 billion for carbon capture, approving solar projects that will be able to power millions of homes, launching Great British Energy and delivering a record-breaking renewables auction. I also support the plans it has set out for increasing the energy efficiency of rented homes to lift up to half a million households out of fuel poverty.
On Heathrow, I understand the concerns that many people have about the expansion of airports and their compatibility with our climate change targets. So I am pleased that the Government has been clear that any airport expansion proposals will need to demonstrate they can be delivered in line with our legally binding climate change commitments, as well as meeting strict air quality standards.
I am pleased that progress is already being made in transitioning to greener aviation with the introduction of the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate which is now in force. In support of this, the Government will invest £63 million over the next year in the advanced fuels fund, supporting SAF producers across the UK. Ministers have been clear that the Government’s SAF commitments will support thousands of jobs while bringing down our transport emissions.
As for Southend Airport I do not believe there are any plans to expand the current flights operations.
I believe the benefits to the South-east through the Lower Thames Crossing will be profound. This project is expected to almost double road capacity across the Thames east of London, significantly easing congestion at the Dartford Crossing and improving journey times by up to 46% between Tilbury and Medway. It will also create a more resilient road network, reducing traffic spill over onto local roads and providing a vital new route for freight, connecting South-East ports with manufacturing centres and distribution hubs. Additionally, the project is projected to add up to £40 billion to the UK economy by making journeys quicker, safer, and more reliable. I support my fellow parliamentary peers in the South East with their efforts in progressing the proposed development forward, as it will bring substantial economic and logistical benefits to our region.
Thank you once again for contacting me about this important issue. I can assure you that I will continue to support the strong action that we need on climate change.