Windsor MP Continues to Oppose 3rd Runway

Adam Afriyie, the MP for Windsor, has been tabling Parliamentary Questions to scrutinise the Government’s Airports National Policy Statement ahead of the vote on Monday 25th June.

His Parliamentary Questions have shone a light over a wide variety of areas, in particular the Government’s lack of preparation for a plan to replace the critical Lakeside Energy from Waste facility and absence of a timescale for the decontamination of land necessary for a 3rd Runway.

Adam has consistently opposed a 3rd Runway at Heathrow for the last 13 years under both Conservative and Labour Governments. He wishes to see an additional runway at Gatwick instead, which the Government’s own National Policy Statement projects will deliver greater value to the economy and less uncertainty.

 

The MP for the Windsor constituency, Adam Afriyie welcomed the figures:

“Under no circumstances will I ever vote for a 3rd Runway at Heathrow. I have fought tooth and nail against these misled plans for 13 years will vote against a 3rd Runway when they come to the House.

“Under closer scrutiny the business case for a 3rd Runway at Heathrow has disintegrated, whereas the environmental case to stop expansion has solidified.

“I have spoken at every opportunity in the past two months where airport expansion is concerned and have always highlighted why a 3rd Runway might be in Heathrow’s interests, but it is not in Windsor’s interest, or indeed the UK’s.

“It is unfortunate that the Conservatives have not followed Labour’s example and given MPs a free vote on this issue. However, for my part I will be standing up for my constituents and the national interest and voting against the 3rd Runway at Heathrow which will be a disaster on so many levels.”

 

Parliamentary Questions:

Lakeside Energy from Waste

1.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has identified waste disposal facilities in south-east England with like-for-like spare capacity to deal with the closure of Lakeside Energy from Waste in the event of a third runway being constructed at Heathrow.

 

Answered by: Jesse Norman MP

The Government has not sought to identify specific like for like energy from waste facilities to manage the loss of the Lakeside plant. DEFRA’s assessment used publicly available data on waste disposal held by the Environment Agency to confirm that the Lakeside energy from waste plant is not a strategic asset.

 

 

2.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of how long the relocation of Lakeside Energy from Waste will take in the event of a third runway being constructed at Heathrow Airport.

 

Answered by: Jesse Norman MP

The Government has not undertaken a separate assessment of how long it would take to relocate the plant because relocation is not necessary from a statutory or policy perspective. However if relocation was to take place, the Airports Commission estimated that the process may take five years.

 

 

3.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 92 of Government’s response to the Transport Committee’s report, Airports National Policy Statement, published on 23 March 2018, HC 548, whether that accounts for hazardous waste separately to other categories of waste.

 

Answered by: Jesse Norman MP

The Government has no plans to make any further assessments of the removal of the Lakeside Energy from Waste plant. The proposed Airports National Policy Statement (NPS) at para 5.142 makes clear that the effects of removing the plant will require assessment by an applicant for Development Consent. The proposed Airports NPS also sets out the requirements on an applicant for the management of the waste generated by the development.

 

 

4.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 1.113 of the Government Response to the Transport Committee Report on the revised draft Airports National Policy Statement, HC 548. what the evidential basis was for his Department's statement that there is sufficient waste management capacity to absorb any Lakeside loss.

 

Answered by: Jesse Norman MP

DEFRA used publicly available data on waste disposal held by the Environment Agency to confirm that the Lakeside energy from waste plant is not a strategic asset and its loss would not affect the UK’s ability to meet environmental targets e.g. diversion from landfill. Therefore there is neither a statutory nor a policy reason to mandate replacement of the plant in the proposed Airports National Policy Statement.

 

The Lakeside energy from waste High Temperature Incinerator (HTI) mainly treats clinical waste. In the South East and London Regions (which includes the Lakeside facility) there are three HTIs (including Lakeside) with permitted capacity of 68kt. However, in 2016 only 57kt of waste was treated in total at these facilities and 5kt (or 9% of the total capacity) at Lakeside. The clinical waste burned at Lakeside does not have to be dealt with by an HTI. There are six clinical waste plants in the South East and London Regions (including Lakeside) therefore the loss of the clinical waste tonnage at Lakeside could be met by other facilities.

 

 

5.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which waste disposal facilities with High Temperature Incinerators his Department has assessed as having enough spare capacity to deal with the loss of Lakeside Energy from Waste in the event of the construction of a third runway at Heathrow.

 

Answered by: Jesse Norman MP

DEFRA used publicly available data on waste disposal held by the Environment Agency to confirm that the Lakeside energy from waste plant is not a strategic asset and its loss would not affect the UK’s ability to meet environmental targets e.g. diversion from landfill. Therefore there is neither a statutory nor a policy reason to mandate replacement of the plant in the proposed Airports National Policy Statement.

 

The Lakeside energy from waste High Temperature Incinerator (HTI) mainly treats clinical waste. In the South East and London Regions (which includes the Lakeside facility) there are three HTIs (including Lakeside) with permitted capacity of 68kt. However, in 2016 only 57kt of waste was treated in total at these facilities and 5kt (or 9% of the total capacity) at Lakeside. The clinical waste burned at Lakeside does not have to be dealt with by an HTI. There are six clinical waste plants in the South East and London Regions (including Lakeside) therefore the loss of the clinical waste tonnage at Lakeside could be met by other facilities.

 

 

6.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the page 92 of the Government’s response to the Transport Committee’s report, Airports National Policy Statement, published on 23 March 2018, HC 548, what plans he has to make an assessment of the removal of the Lakeside energy from waste plant upon capacity for treatment of waste to be carried out by Heathrow Airports Ltd under the Airports National Policy Statement.

 

Answered by: Jesse Norman MP

The Government has no plans to make any further assessments of the removal of the Lakeside Energy from Waste plant. The proposed Airports National Policy Statement (NPS) at para 5.142 makes clear that the effects of removing the plant will require assessment by an applicant for Development Consent. The proposed Airports NPS also sets out the requirements on an applicant for the management of the waste generated by the development.

 

 

Heathrow Airport: Construction

1.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the water bodies required to prevent a deterioration of water body status in the event of a third runway being constructed at Heathrow.

 

Answered by: Jesse Norman MP

In the Appraisal of Sustainability (AoS) that accompanies the proposed Airports National Policy Statement (NPS), the Government has undertaken a high level assessment of the effect on the water environment of the Heathrow Northwest Runway scheme.

 

The proposed Airports NPS sets out the requirements in relation to water quality and resources which any applicant for a Development Consent Order would need to meet. This potentially includes the effects on water bodies or protected areas under the Water Framework Directive.

 

The Government has not estimated the time it will take to decontaminate land. This a matter that would need to be addressed as part of any application for development consent. The AoS identifies a range of sources and pathways for contamination within the site boundary. These include two active landfills, 16 historic landfills and 11 registered pollution incidents, five of which are classified as significant.

 

 

2.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has estimated the time it will take to decontaminate land before a third runway can be constructed at Heathrow.

 

Answered by: Jesse Norman MP

In the Appraisal of Sustainability (AoS) that accompanies the proposed Airports National Policy Statement (NPS), the Government has undertaken a high level assessment of the effect on the water environment of the Heathrow Northwest Runway scheme.

 

The proposed Airports NPS sets out the requirements in relation to water quality and resources which any applicant for a Development Consent Order would need to meet. This potentially includes the effects on water bodies or protected areas under the Water Framework Directive.

 

The Government has not estimated the time it will take to decontaminate land. This a matter that would need to be addressed as part of any application for development consent. The AoS identifies a range of sources and pathways for contamination within the site boundary. These include two active landfills, 16 historic landfills and 11 registered pollution incidents, five of which are classified as significant.

 

 

3.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has estimated the quantity of contaminated land that will need to be decontaminated before a third runway can be constructed at Heathrow.

 

Answered by: Jesse Norman MP

In the Appraisal of Sustainability (AoS) that accompanies the proposed Airports National Policy Statement (NPS), the Government has undertaken a high level assessment of the effect on the water environment of the Heathrow Northwest Runway scheme.

 

The proposed Airports NPS sets out the requirements in relation to water quality and resources which any applicant for a Development Consent Order would need to meet. This potentially includes the effects on water bodies or protected areas under the Water Framework Directive.

 

The Government has not estimated the time it will take to decontaminate land. This a matter that would need to be addressed as part of any application for development consent. The AoS identifies a range of sources and pathways for contamination within the site boundary. These include two active landfills, 16 historic landfills and 11 registered pollution incidents, five of which are classified as significant.

 

 

4.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an estimate of the Co2 emissions resulting from the construction of a third runway at Heathrow.

 

Answered by: Jesse Norman MP

The Government has considered the carbon effects of the construction and operation of an expanded Heathrow and agrees with the Airports Commission’s assessment that the Heathrow Northwest Runway scheme can be delivered within the UK’s climate change commitments.

 

Heathrow Airport Limited has committed to a package of measures including introducing an airside ultra-low emissions zone by 2025 before the operation of any new runway. They have also committed to using low-carbon and locally-sourced materials in construction, and using sustainable transport methods for materials and public transport for construction workers.

 

The Appraisal of Sustainability (AoS) that accompanies the proposed Airports National Policy Statement (NPS) provides a strategic level assessment of the potential social, economic, and environmental effects of expansion, including on carbon emissions. The AoS has been published on the DfT’s website and the relevant information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appraisal-of-sustainability-for-the-proposed-airports-nat...

 

 

5.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an estimate of the total cost of decontaminating any necessary land before a third runway can be constructed at Heathrow.

 

Answered by: Jesse Norman MP

The Appraisal of Sustainability, published alongside the proposed Airports National Policy Statement, identifies the potential soil contamination issues in relation to the Heathrow Northwest Runway scheme. The Airports Commission also included £123m, plus optimism bias, for site levelling and soil remediation within its cost and commercial assessment.

 

The Government has been clear that expansion will be privately financed and costs will not fall on the taxpayer. This includes any land decontamination costs.

 

 

6.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the taxpayer is planned to be liable for any proportion of the total cost of decontaminating land before a third runway can be constructed at Heathrow.

 

Answered by: Jesse Norman MP

The Appraisal of Sustainability, published alongside the proposed Airports National Policy Statement, identifies the potential soil contamination issues in relation to the Heathrow Northwest Runway scheme. The Airports Commission also included £123m, plus optimism bias, for site levelling and soil remediation within its cost and commercial assessment.

 

The Government has been clear that expansion will be privately financed and costs will not fall on the taxpayer. This includes any land decontamination costs.

 

 

Heathrow Airport Limtied

1.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effect on the global competitiveness of Heathrow Airport of an increase in landing charges at that airport of (a) £1, (b) £2, (c) £3, (d) £4, (e) £5 and (f) £10.

 

Answered by: Jesse Norman MP

The Secretary of State set out a clear ambition in 2016 for airport charges to remain as close as possible to current levels.

 

In the context of expansion, the Civil Aviation Authority will determine an appropriate level of airport charges in line with its statutory duty to further the interest of consumers. The CAA set out in its April consultation that there are credible scenarios in which expansion can be delivered affordably and financeably with airport charges remaining close to current levels – in line with the Secretary of State’s ambition.

 

Separately, Heathrow have also set out potential scheme savings of up to £2.5 billion and confirmed they are confident they can deliver the Secretary of State’s ambition.

 

Both the Government and the Airport Commission undertook sensitivity analysis which showed that even if airport charges did rise this would not materially affect the case for expansion.

 

By contrast, the Government is absolutely clear of the effect of not taking forward expansion; doing nothing could cost around £21 - £23 billion to passengers and around £30 - £45 billion to the wider economy over 60 years.

 

 

2.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 11 June 2018 on Contingency Liability: Notification (HCWS748), whether his Department’s decision to provide taxpayer indemnities to Heathrow Airport Limited is contingent on the third Runway proceeding.

 

Answered by: Joseph Johnson MP

The contingent liabilities entered into as part of the tripartite deal between the Department, Heathrow Airport and First Greater Western were about securing the future of the Heathrow Express services and delivering significant benefits to the Department, such as the savings generated from not building a replacement depot for Heathrow Express rolling stock at Langley as part of the HS2 scheme. They are not contingent on the third Runway proceeding.

 

 

3.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an estimate on the level of debt liable to the public purse in the event that the Airports National Policy Statement is approved by Parliament but Heathrow Airport Limited is unable to finance its expansion.

 

Answered by: Jesse Norman MP

The Government is clear that the Northwest Runway scheme at Heathrow will be financed by the private sector without Government support. In the event that Heathrow Airport Limited were unable to finance its scheme, there would be no default cost to Government.

 

The Government and its advisers have undertaken considerable assurance work on the financial viability of Heathrow Airport Limited's scheme. Given the transformative nature of the scheme, there will almost certainly be various risks and challenges that will need to be addressed as the scheme design and regulatory framework are developed. The Government has concluded that, so far as can be assessed at this early stage of the process, in current market conditions Heathrow Airport Limited appears in principle to be able to finance expansion privately and without Government support.

 

 

4.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the cost to the public purse in relation to Heathrow Airport Limited in the event that the Airports National Policy Statement is not approved by Parliament.

 

Answered by: Jesse Norman MP

The Government is clear that the construction of the Northwest Runway at Heathrow will be financed entirely by the private sector. Should the Airports National Policy Statement not be approved by Parliament, there would be no financial liability on the Government.

 

There is no agreement in place between HAL and the Department that gives rise to a right to claim for damages, losses, liabilities, costs and/or expenses or any other relief.

 

 

5.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the cost to the public purse in the event that the Airports National Policy Statement is approved by Parliament but Heathrow Airport Limited is unable to finance its expansion.

 

Answered by: Jesse Norman MP

The Government is clear that the Northwest Runway scheme at Heathrow will be financed by the private sector without Government support. In the event that Heathrow Airport Limited were unable to finance its scheme, there would be no default cost to Government.

 

The Government and its advisers have undertaken considerable assurance work on the financial viability of Heathrow Airport Limited's scheme. Given the transformative nature of the scheme, there will almost certainly be various risks and challenges that will need to be addressed as the scheme design and regulatory framework are developed. The Government has concluded that, so far as can be assessed at this early stage of the process, in current market conditions Heathrow Airport Limited appears in principle to be able to finance expansion privately and without Government support.

 

 

Regional Airports

1.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Table 3.7 of the Department for Transport’s Updated Appraisal Report Airport Capacity in the South East and pursuant to his statement to the House of 5 June 2018 on Airports National Policy Statement, Official Report, column 169, what the evidential basis is that the measures in the Airports National Policy Statement would enable regional airports to increase their number of flights.

 

Answered by: Jesse Norman MP

Northwest Runway at Heathrow will improve the UK’s connectivity, with more frequent services to important destinations around the world, providing benefits for passengers and freight-operators across the UK. While Heathrow expansion will help to secure the UK’s status as a global aviation hub, we will also see airports across the country continuing to develop their point-to-point networks.

 

The table referred to shows that passenger numbers at airports outside of London are expected to increase by 80 per cent between 2016 and 2050 with a third runway at Heathrow, with the equivalent increase in flights being 71 per cent. The Government recognises that all three schemes for expansion in the South East are projected to result in regional airports experiencing lower growth in flights than they would have otherwise seen without expansion, but there is still expected to be strong growth at non-London airports relative to today.

 

Crucially, the Department’s forecasts do not take into account the ability of the scheme promoter and Government to strengthen specific routes, or other measures to enhance regional connectivity. In addition, the modelling does not take account of future commercial strategies that individual airports could employ to take advantage of the opportunities from both growing demand outside of London and the greater connections offered by an expanded Heathrow. Therefore, it is not surprising that Heathrow expansion is supported by a range of UK airports across all parts of the country, including Liverpool-John Lennon, Glasgow and Newquay.

 

 

Airports: National Policy Statements

1.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has discussed with the Leader of the House the date on which the final vote on the Airports National Policy Statement is planned to take place.

 

Answered by: Jesse Norman MP

The Secretary of State for Transport has regular discussions with the Leader of the House on a wide range of issues. The NPS was laid on 5 June and will be subject to a debate and vote in the House of Commons within 21 sitting days of laying the final NPS in Parliament. The last date that can take place is 9 July 2018.

 

 

2.     To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with the Leader of the House on how long the Airports National Policy Statement will be debated for.

 

Answered by: Jesse Norman MP

The Secretary of State met with the Leader of the House on 27 March to discuss airport expansion and the revised draft Airports National Policy Statement. Any debate and vote must be held within the 21 sitting days of the proposed Airports National Policy Statement being laid in Parliament, with the last sitting day being 9 July. The Leader will announce business in the normal way.

 

ENDS

Note to editors

1.   Adam Afriyie is the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Ghana and Guinea.

2.   He has been a strong opponent of a 3rd Runway at Heathrow since he became MP for Windsor in 2005.

3.   He is currently Chairman of the Fintech APPG, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) and President of the Conservative Science and Technology Forum (CSTF).

4.   He was shadow Minister for Science from 2007-2010 and has a background in the information services and technology sector.

5.   To read more about Adam’s position on Heathrow, please click here.