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Press Release

BATA comment on deputy PM's promise to accelerate major infrastructure projects

15 September 2011

Commenting on today's promise by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to give new special priority status to up to 40 of the biggest national infrastructure projects most important to Britain's future growth prospects, Simon Buck, Chief Executive of the British Air Transport Association said:

"One of the greatest private sector funded projects the Government could approve at nil cost to the British Exchequer would be the construction of new runway capacity at our overcrowded London airports. As a result, London's airports are losing routes and hence new business to our continental rivals who are rapidly expanding their own airports.

As an island nation, Britain's future prosperity depends on our connectivity with the rest of the world – especially with the growing economies of Brazil, China and India where we need to compete effectively if we are to win new business and attract tourist income. According to the Committee on Climate Change, UK aviation could grow sustainably by up to 60% without impacting the UK's climate change commitments. Yet, for some reason, this Government seems determined to turn its back on the £30 billion or so of economic benefit that new runway capacity would bring to the UK at a time when the UK economy needs every bit of help it can get.

Rather than putting its foot on the accelerator in this respect, the Government has its foot firmly on the brakes and is at risk of sliding the UK economy into an even deeper trough than we are in already"



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British Air Transport Association

British Air Transport Association

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