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Responding to the Downturn and Planning the Future Economy

I want to talk about Robin Hood airport. I thank Labour Members who are here today—and those who are not here—who supported the recycling of RAF Finningley into an airport. In particular, I pay tribute to the Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber and my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough. On this historic occasion, I want to mention our former colleague, Kevin Hughes, who was the MP for Doncaster, North, and stood shoulder to shoulder with me for many years in trying to win that campaign. Sometimes we must come together across the region on initiatives in one part of the region that are worth supporting. I believe that Robin Hood airport—I will not talk about the name—is one of those. As with other airports, it is going through a difficult time, but it has proved its worth. Around 100 businesses on the site or close to it are also benefiting. It could add 1 per cent. to the region’s gross domestic product by the middle of the next decade, and by 2030 it could generate 18,000 new jobs across our region due to supply chains and other businesses that benefit from a vibrant airport. It is important in our debate on how to deal with the downturn and plan for the future that we work together to secure one piece of the jigsaw that will make that even more successful: the link road. I urge the Minister and the deputy Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough, to help us to keep pushing forward and to knock a few heads together, both locally and nationally, to obtain a decision. The regional transport board has approved the road, the Highways Agency is behind it, and all partners in Doncaster and throughout our region support it, but we must put the business case to Transport Ministers to get it moving ahead. It is vital that a decision is made early in 2010, and I hope that we can focus on something that is practical and in all our interests so that we ensure that the decision is made as soon as possible.