Hoon pushes ahead with Heathrow expansion

Friday, 31 October 2008 1:00 PM

Geoff Hoon, transport secretary, has promised to "make progress" on expanding UK airports.

The statement is a clear indication the government will not back down in the face of increasing criticism about the plans, especially given the strict new carbon emission targets the government has set itself.

Green activists have questioned how the government expects to push ahead with airport expansion if it is to abide by the targets it set last week with the climate change bill.

The bill specifies an 80 per cent cut in emissions by 2050, including those from aviation and shipping.

Nearly 100 MPs have signed a campaign calling for investment to be funnelled into building a new high-speed train system instead of concentrating on aviation.

But Mr Hoon said the two systems were not mutually exclusive.

"Positing airport growth and high-speed rail as alternatives is a false choice," he told the Financial Times.

"We need to make progress on both."

Mr Hoon is set to announce his decision on Heathrow before Christmas.

Tags:
• airport expansion
,
• aviation
,
• public services
,
• transport