Airports: London

Lord Swinfen Excerpts

Tuesday 4th November 2014 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Kramer]

My Lords, working from my transport brief, we look frequently at connectivity for airports and recognise that all transport has an important role to play in economic growth.

[Lord Swinfen (Con)]

My Lords, what consideration is being given to the expansion of Manston Airport, which has good rail and road communications with London and could easily mop up a lot of the unemployment on the Isle of Thanet?

[Baroness Kramer]

My Lords, I have to confess a lack of knowledge on that question, and I will gladly write to your Lordships.

Shipping: Passenger Safety

Lord Swinfen Excerpts

Wednesday 15th January 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Swinfen (Con)]

My Lords, what would be the comparative rates of survival for the two methods, life rafts and life rings, in cold winter water around our northern coasts?

[Baroness Kramer]

I assure your Lordships that this standard could not apply in winter weather; it is for summer only. It is for boats that are very close to the coast and for small excursion vessels. It is part of an appropriate safety regime to look at how the vessels are being used and to make sure that safety is appropriate to that rather than circumstances in which they cannot be used.

Driving: Blood Alcohol Limit

Lord Swinfen Excerpts

Wednesday 12th December 2012 Lords Chamber

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, during the passage of the Crime and Courts Bill this afternoon we will be taking the drug-driving provisions through. There are two pieces of equipment to be approved: the station-based drug testing equipment, which is on track to be approved by the Home Office shortly, and the roadside drug testing equipment, which is a little more difficult; we need to wait for the outcome of the expert panel which is looking at the appropriate levels before we can set its specification.

[Lord Swinfen]

My Lords, how long does it take for the blood alcohol level to return to zero from 80 milligrams when the alcohol disperses naturally?

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, I do not know, but the key point is that there is no safe limit of alcohol in the blood when driving a vehicle. Therefore, we advise that the best option is not to drink at all.

Airports: Heathrow

Lord Swinfen Excerpts

Monday 28th May 2012 Lords Chamber

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, I can assure the House that I shall listen very carefully to noble Lords’ input on the aviation Bill as it passes through the House.

[Lord Swinfen]

My Lords, what is being done to produce quieter aircraft?

[Earl Attlee]

Could my noble friend repeat the question?

[Noble Lords]

Oh!

[Lord Swinfen]

Certainly. I asked my noble friend what is being done to produce quieter aircraft.

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, there is a great incentive to produce quieter aircraft because of the quota system at Heathrow. I understand that the next generation of aircraft will be 50% quieter.

Airports: London

Lord Swinfen Excerpts

Wednesday 16th March 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Clinton-Davis]

My Lords, I forgot to declare an interest as president of the British Airline Pilots Association.

[Lord Swinfen]

My Lords, what proposals are there for the expansion of Manston Airport, which has a trunk road running along its southern boundary and a railway line about a mile away?

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, that will be considered in the wider strategy, and no doubt the south-east airport study will look at it as well. I have to say, however, that although Manston has some attractions, it is quite a long way from London.