There was an automated reply sent back the same day.

On July 5 I wrote again

Today I got an standard  response (clearly the one sent out to anyone who thinks that voting for airport expansion is suicidal, ecocidal etc etc.). It’s below, just for the lulz.

Hilariously, there was no response to the straightforward questions about carbon literacy…. This has been pointed out to Ms Powell (or rather, her office junior).

Thanks for what looks suspiciously like the standard letter sent out to everyone who contacted you about your Heathrow decision.

I will repeat (now for the third time) some very very straightforward questions. I do look forward to your reply.

That reply from the good MP-

Dear Marc

Thank you for the email about the vote on whether to approve the additional Terminal at Heathrow- this is a difficult subject and one which people have strongly held views on.

After much thought, I reached the conclusion that Heathrow expansion was the right thing for the country. It will see additional jobs created and will improve connectivity with the rest of the world. The expansion was strongly backed by Unions who want to see their member’s jobs protected and new jobs created

Heathrow, as the UK’s major hub airport, has been in need of additional capacity for some time and successive Governments have put off making a decision about its future.

Heathrow wrote to all MPs to say that they are confident that their plans meet what has been asked of them in terms of air quality, noise, carbon emissions and ensuring the whole of the UK benefits. One thing they were keen to highlight is a triple-lock of measures to ensure the project does not delay the UK’s compliance with legal limits for air quality; plans to further reduce Heathrow’s noise impacts; and using supply chain opportunities to benefit small businesses in the regions.  They also have a sustainability strategy which sets out their aspiration for carbon neutral growth.   These conditions will be set out as a legal requirement and should they not be met, the expansion won’t go ahead.

Obviously I recognise the tension between expansion and our commitments to reduce our impact on climate change and it is right that this is continuously scrutinised.

As a Manchester MP, one of my concerns is about the benefits to the UK as a whole. Whilst I recognise that there will be supply chain benefits across the country, I think that the Government need to do much more to address our infrastructure deficiency in the North. Connectivity improvements across the North are vital for our future and I coordinated a letter on behalf of GM MPs to ask for assurances that the North would receive the investment it needs. I have attached a copy of this letter for your information.

Infrastructure investment does not start and end at Heathrow expansion and whilst we may disagree on this issue- I hope we will agree on calling for the North to receive its fair share of investment.

Best wishes

 

Lucy