Articles and Speeches

Underhand on Aviation
19-May-06, Windsor Express Article.

We had a vigorous debate in Parliament last week about whether more flights should be allowed at Heathrow. Many voices - and some tempers - were raised, including my own.

At present the Secretary of State sets an overt numerical cap on the number of flights allowed. This is, and has been, easily understood and transparent. Everybody knows where they stand.

However, despite reassurances, the Government has forced through a new system of noise quotas based on an exponential scale for the average noise based on Quota Counts and flights across a season.

Confused? Well I’m not surprised. In my view they have deliberately made matters complicated in order to hide the simple fact that more flights can now be allowed at Heathrow.

Following robust protestations and speeches from myself and my colleagues of all political persuasions, the Government conceded that the changes will not come into effect until 2012.

But be under no illusion, the cap on flight numbers has now been removed which allow, pretty much, unlimited flights at Heathrow after 2012.

It is disappointing that the government has been so sneaky and underhand because it is the next Government who will have to deal with the backlash from local residents and environmentalists.