Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the planned expansion of Heathrow does not contribute to an increase in air pollution.

In regards to air quality, following designation of the Airports National Policy Statement, it is now down to an applicant for development consent to undertake a detailed assessment of the air quality impacts of its scheme, including during construction, and put forward an appropriate package of mitigations that address air quality impacts and demonstrate compliance.

In order to grant development consent, I would need to be satisfied that, with mitigation, the scheme would be compliant with legal obligations.

Separately, my Department will also be working to speed up the research, development and adoption of low and zero carbon aviation technology.