Airport Capacity Debate

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Department: Department for Transport
Tuesday 25th October 2016

(7 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Chris Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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I do not think that any of us could think that the Brighton main line was the priority, for a whole variety of different reasons. We have to deal with the short-term issues and challenges, but we also need to think about how we can best deliver the necessary improvements for the medium and longer term. There is no doubt we need a modernisation programme, but we also need a programme that causes the minimum possible disruption to passengers.

Yvonne Fovargue Portrait Yvonne Fovargue (Makerfield) (Lab)
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Connectivity to Heathrow is essential for areas in Greater Manchester and beyond. However, does the Secretary of State agree that in tandem with expanding Heathrow, new point-to-point routes with emerging economies are essential from other international gateway airports, such as Manchester, and what is he doing to encourage that?