Third Runway At Heathrow Confirmed

Transport secretary Geoff Hoon told parliament that the £40 Billion plans to build Heathrow's third runway will go ahead Included in the proposal is £6billionn decongestion plan and £10billion to be spent on railways over the next 10 years.

The government has created High Speed 2, a new company which will create the Heathrow international hub station and provide a high-speed rail network, whose main aim will be to improve links between London and Scotland.The third runway proposes 8,000 new jobs on site by 2030 and the creation of 60,000 construction jobs.

Geoff Hoon said Britain would not hit the EU 2010 carbon emissions target but promised to cut emissions by 80% by 2050.The plan will also increase passenger capacity on the Picadilly line and Crossrail, making 6,000 more people per hour able to travel to the airport on public transport. Flights at Heathrow could increase by 222,000 by 2030.

Hoon said that only the cleanest aircraft would be available for use on the third runway. He said: “Doing nothing will damage our economy and have no effect whatsoever on climate change.”

John McDonnell Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington reacted angrily to Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon's comments on the third runway and was suspended by Deputy Speaker Sir Alan Haselhurst.He marched from the back benches down the steps before picking up the mace and placing it on an empty Labour front bench, shouting: "It's a disgrace to the democracy of this country!" before leaving the chamber.