Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Mosley Excerpts
Thursday 23rd June 2011

(12 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Hammond of Runnymede Portrait Mr Hammond
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The hon. Lady is right that we have a big challenge in relation to aviation growth in the south-east. What I did not hear her do was repeat Labour’s policy to build a third runway at Heathrow airport. Perhaps at some stage she could tell the House whether that remains Labour’s policy. The coalition Government cancelled the third runway at Heathrow because of the unacceptable environmental burden that it imposed, but we are committed to developing a new and sustainable aviation strategy that will allow the growth of aviation in the UK—but only when it meets its environmental obligations.

Stephen Mosley Portrait Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con)
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2. What recent representations he has received on varying national motorway speed limits.

Mike Penning Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mike Penning)
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My ministerial colleagues and I have received a variety of representations, including via the red tape challenge to the highways regulations, on the subject of varying the motorway speed limit. The issue raises interesting aspects of our current behaviour, and we will continue to look at it.

Stephen Mosley Portrait Stephen Mosley
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The maximum motorway speed limit in several European countries, including France, Italy and Germany, is currently greater than 80 mph. In order to help deliver the economic benefit of reduced journey time, will my hon. Friend consider increasing the motorway speed limit to 80 mph?