What to Write

Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody MP, Chair of the Transport Committee

This Committee scrutinises the Department for Transport. Its formal remit is to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department for Transport and its associated public bodies.

We suggest you write to Mrs Dunwoody requesting that the Transport Committee review the DfT's proposals for expanding Heathrow in the light of some of:

1. The absence of an independent study setting out the economic case for Heathrow expansion
2. Why the DfT's economic case for Heathrow expansion does not take into account the £9bn subsidy the aviation industry receives from not paying VAT and the £18bn tourism deficit where UK travellers overseas spend more than visitors to this country
3. The minimal benefit to the UK economy provided by the 35% of passengers at Heathrow who are simply changing planes
4. How the Government can reconcile its stated objectives for achieving emissions reductions with its advocacy of further expansion at Heathrow
5. Why the aviation industry, uniquely, can expect other industries to make its emissions reductions for it
6. The climate change impact of the extra 3 million tonnes per annum of CO₂ admissions produced by the third runway
7. Why the DfT is using a 22-year-old noise study as the basis for its Heathrow expansion proposals, and not its own more recent peer-reviewed study
8. Why the option of providing greater rail capacity and routes for short-haul journeys has not been considered

Tim Yeo MP, Chair of the Environment Audit Committee

This Committee considers to what extent the polices and programmes of government departments and non-departmental public bodies contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development.

In October 2007, when announcing the EAC's Ninth Report of Session for 2006-07 its chairman Tim Yeo stated:

"The Government must also ensure that all its policies are consistent with both long-term emissions reductions targets, and long-term climate change impacts."

We suggest you write to Mr Yeo requesting that the Environment Audit Committee review the DfT's proposals for expanding Heathrow in the light of:

• Their inconsistency with the Government's stated objectives for achieving emissions reductions
• The proposal that the aviation industry uniquely can expect other industries to make its emissions reductions for it
• The climate change impact of the extra 3 million tonnes per annum of CO₂ admissions produced by the proposed third runway alone
• The absence of any proposals to replace short haul plane journeys by more sustainable modes of transport such as rail