Skip to main content

Proceeding contribution from Julian Brazier (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 11 November 2008. It occurred during Debate on Heathrow.


Heathrow

Sadly, I do not have time to give way, and I apologise to my hon. Friend. The wider issue that is constantly put forward is of a threat to the British economy. Let us remember that a recent presentation from BAA and Flying Matters conceded that only 36 per cent. of passengers are business passengers. Government is about making choices, sometimes difficult ones. We have to choose between increasingly thin economic arguments, on the one hand, and a severe and sustained devastation of quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people, on the other. We have to make that decision against a background of climate change. Through a high-speed rail alternative, our plans offer some of the growth that the economists want, a much better connected journey for passengers, a railway system fit for the modern era, protection of the local environment and a worthwhile step on climate change. I commend them to the House.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
482 c737 
Session
2007-08
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Aviation Construction Airports Air routes Heathrow Airport Pollution Noise
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk