Government plans for Airport expansion makes mockery of environmental targets says Euro-MP

1.01.42pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th Jun 2004

West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne has today welcomed a report by the Sustainable Development Commission, calling on the Governments plans for airport expansion to be reassessed.

The report says that the proposals in the White paper "The future of air transport" are at odds with the Governments target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 60% in the next 50 years.

Speaking today the Liberal Democrat MEP said:

"This report backs up what the Liberal Democrats have been saying for some time now. The Government have failed to address the environmental impact of increased air travel, instead they are encouraging more with plans for airport expansion.

"We have opposed airport expansion across the West Midlands because of the damage it would cause to the local environment. The Government must come up with ways of reducing air travel.

"The white paper makes a mockery of the Government's targets on carbon dioxide emissions. It is time they reformed aviation taxation to support cleaner fuels and more efficient aircraft. Aviation fuel should be taxed in the same way as other fuels and subject to the Kyoto Protocol."

ENDS