Speeches by Wilson.

“The point I was trying to make was that, if other places close at hand provide the opportunity and ability for people to do that, are they not still going to undertake those flights? Why should we not get the benefit of the bigger airports, the hub airports etc., which can have the other additional benefits to the econ…”

“We have heard quite mixed evidence about the economic benefits of airport expansion. On the positive side we have heard that airports, for example, generate £27 billion on GVA and 270,000 jobs. The airlines that use them generate about the equivalent contribution to GVA and 390,000 jobs. Tourism benefits by about £27 b…”

“We have not really touched much on the trade benefits that airports give. I mentioned the figure for Heathrow, which is £200 billion-worth of exports. 86% of belly-load exports go through Heathrow, where is already at 98% capacity or whatever. There is a real danger, as we move towards a more high-value export economy,…”

“I met with the Indian high commissioner last evening, who pointed out that there are now 4,000 Indian companies that have invested in the United Kingdom. How important is having a strong hub airport to investors from outside the United Kingdom that want to invest in the United Kingdom, having that degree of connectivit…”

“That probably brings me to my question to Dr Chapman. I think that I am quoting you properly here. In an earlier part of your evidence, when we were talking about the net deficit that there is in tourism, you said that any policy that sends as many people abroad as possible is not going to be conducive to economic grow…”

“Yes, but you do not begrudge them that. If people want to fly and go to Greece or Spain for their holidays, who are we to tell them, “You should not do it”, or, “We do not like you doing it”? We have seen it already. You mentioned the tax on going to Australia. Many people now fly to Dublin to escape the air passenger …”

“Might it not be that people decide, “I would rather get a 30-minute flight to wherever I want to go than a three-hour train journey”? Again, that is a case of individual choice. Is it not important that, in a free economy, we give people those choices?”

“The point I was trying to make was that, if other places close at hand provide the opportunity and ability for people to do that, are they not still going to undertake those flights? Why should we not get the benefit of the bigger airports, the hub airports etc., which can have the other additional benefits to the econ…”

“Mr Gorman, there are two things that we seem to have taken for granted so far. You said you did not recognise one of them, which is the deficit in tourist spending. The other thing that was said to us today by the New Economics Foundation is that airport expansion is quite elitist. Only 3% of the population will benefi…”

“We have heard quite mixed evidence about the economic benefits of airport expansion. On the positive side we have heard that airports, for example, generate £27 billion on GVA and 270,000 jobs. The airlines that use them generate about the equivalent contribution to GVA and 390,000 jobs. Tourism benefits by about £27 b…”

“We have not really touched much on the trade benefits that airports give. I mentioned the figure for Heathrow, which is £200 billion-worth of exports. 86% of belly-load exports go through Heathrow, where is already at 98% capacity or whatever. There is a real danger, as we move towards a more high-value export economy,…”

“I met with the Indian high commissioner last evening, who pointed out that there are now 4,000 Indian companies that have invested in the United Kingdom. How important is having a strong hub airport to investors from outside the United Kingdom that want to invest in the United Kingdom, having that degree of connectivit…”

“That probably brings me to my question to Dr Chapman. I think that I am quoting you properly here. In an earlier part of your evidence, when we were talking about the net deficit that there is in tourism, you said that any policy that sends as many people abroad as possible is not going to be conducive to economic grow…”

“Yes, but you do not begrudge them that. If people want to fly and go to Greece or Spain for their holidays, who are we to tell them, “You should not do it”, or, “We do not like you doing it”? We have seen it already. You mentioned the tax on going to Australia. Many people now fly to Dublin to escape the air passenger …”

“Might it not be that people decide, “I would rather get a 30-minute flight to wherever I want to go than a three-hour train journey”? Again, that is a case of individual choice. Is it not important that, in a free economy, we give people those choices?”

“Mr Gorman, there are two things that we seem to have taken for granted so far. You said you did not recognise one of them, which is the deficit in tourist spending. The other thing that was said to us today by the New Economics Foundation is that airport expansion is quite elitist. Only 3% of the population will benefi…”

“First of all, I welcome the fact that, at least in real terms, the Northern Ireland budget has been maintained over the spending period, although I would point out to the Chancellor that a 0.5% real increase will not enable the Northern Ireland Executive to match the real increase in spending on health and policing whi…”

“Regardless of what one may think of the views expressed by the two Ministers who are subject to sanctions today, the fact is that this is nothing new—they have been saying it for a long time without sanctions. The question that must be asked today is: why now? The Minister must know that this will not bring peace to Ga…”

“I also welcome—[Interruption.] It is very unusual for me to welcome anything from the Secretary of State but I welcome this announcement, because nuclear is an important element in providing the baseload for electricity across the United Kingdom. He mentioned delivery five times in his statement, but this is an announc…”

“Happy birthday, Mr Speaker, and despite what has been said by colleagues on the Benches in front of me, you do not look a day over 75. [Laughter.] While the Minister is claiming to save the world by closing down the oil and gas industry in the United Kingdom, Centrica has signed a £20 billion deal with Norway to supply…”