Transport – in the House of Commons at on 13 February 2025.
Sarah Edwards
Labour, Tamworth
What discussions she is having with airlines to encourage the operation of flights from airports outside London and the south-east.
Mike Kane
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This Government are committed to growth, which regional airports support by serving their local communities, creating jobs, and acting as gateways to international opportunities. Heathrow expansion could give more regions access to a bigger international network through their local airports, thus boosting productivity further.
Sarah Edwards
Labour, Tamworth
In my Constituency, the largest sectoral employer is logistics. Tamworth sits within the “golden triangle” for distribution, centred around the European rail link. Within this hub is East Midlands airport, which handles approximately 440,000 tonnes of freight each year, second only to Heathrow. What steps will the Minister take to fuel economic growth across the west midlands, reviewing capacity at our regional airports, including Birmingham?
Mike Kane
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As my hon. Friend says, freight is hugely important for growth. That is why the Chancellor recently announced plans to build a new advanced manufacturing and logistics park at East Midlands airport, which will unlock up to £1 billion of investment and 2,000 jobs on the site.
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