Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent comments by Sir Howard Davies on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for the need for a third runway at Heathrow; and what plans they have to ask Sir Howard to re-examine the case for a third runway at Heathrow taking into account the impact of (1) changed business practices, (2) greater use of IT on the demand for business travel, and (3) their decision to include aviation emissions in the UK’s (a) carbon budget, and (b) net zero emissions target.

The Government have always been clear that Heathrow expansion remains a private sector project which must meet strict criteria on air quality, noise and climate change, as well as being privately financed, affordable, and delivered in the best interest of consumers.

The Government will soon be consulting on our ambitious plans to decarbonise aviation in the run up to COP26, setting out how the sector will achieve ‘jet zero’ by 2050.