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Written Question
Aviation: Industrial Disputes
Monday 13th November 2023

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to use the provisions of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 to override a pilot's discretion to make the final decision as to whether the aircraft takes off as provided under international aviation regulations.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Any decisions by the pilot in command of an aircraft made in accordance with relevant aviation safety requirements, with regard to the safety of a particular flight, would not constitute industrial action. Such decisions are therefore outside of the scope of Part V of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 and the amendments being made to that Part by the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act.


Written Question
Railway Stations: Cambridge
Monday 24th July 2023

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Greater Anglia Railways about planned ticket office closures at Cambridge railway station; and what opportunities there are for (1) the public, and (2) parliamentarians, to express their views on the proposals.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

To propose any changes to the opening hours, or the closure of ticket offices, train operating companies must follow the process set out in the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement.

Train operators must consult on any proposed changes, advertising them at the relevant stations and inviting members of the public who wish to comment on the proposal to write to the relevant passenger body (either Transport Focus or London TravelWatch) within a 21-day period. Greater Anglia Railways has set out its proposals on its website.

Parliamentarians are encouraged to raise any concerns with the relevant Passenger Bodies through the established consultation process. Further detail of how to do this can be found on station posters or on the Train Operating Company websites.


Written Question
Aviation: Training
Monday 3rd July 2023

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the closure of three flight schools this year, what further financial protection they intend to give trainee pilots from UK flight school failures.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Responsibility for regulating flying training in the UK rests with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The CAA’s approval of a flying school or training establishment as an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) are designed to provide confidence that they are able to perform their operations safely. However, as the CAA does not regulate the ongoing financial viability of flying schools or clubs, approval to conduct flight training does not imply any certification of financial stability. I have asked my officials to engage with the CAA to consider this in more detail.


Written Question
Aviation: Training
Monday 3rd July 2023

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government how, if at all, they intend to improve the financial regulation of UK flight schools.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Responsibility for regulating flying training in the UK rests with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The CAA’s approval of a flying school or training establishment as an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) are designed to provide confidence that they are able to perform their operations safely. However, as the CAA does not regulate the ongoing financial viability of flying schools or clubs, approval to conduct flight training does not imply any certification of financial stability. I have asked my officials to engage with the CAA to consider this in more detail.


Written Question
Aviation: EU Law
Tuesday 21st February 2023

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Balfe and Lord Callanan on 6 February (HL Deb cols 1062–83), whether the Minister is now in a position to write in response the points raised regarding aviation.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

As Lord Callanan stated, the Government are committed to maintaining comprehensive safety standards, including in aviation. Officials engage with industry regularly, including through the industry engagement forum, to ensure their views as to how best to use the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill to achieve this are taken into account. Moreover, officials will meet with BALPA to discuss the specific issues raised by Lord Balfe, in order to better understand concerns, and clarify the discussion had at that forum.


Written Question
Transport: EU Law
Tuesday 21st February 2023

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Callanan on 6 February (HL Deb col 1082), when the Department for Transport industry engagement forum will next meet to discuss the impact of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill on that industry.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

This forum is next scheduled to meet on 14th March.


Written Question
British Airline Pilots Association: Jet Zero Council
Thursday 28th April 2022

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to including a representative from the British Airline Pilots Association to their Jet Zero Council membership.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

When the Jet Zero Council was established in July 2020, we sought to ensure that all relevant parts of the industry were represented, from airlines, airports, and aerospace manufacturers, to NGOs, academics, and start-ups.

To ensure that the Council remains at the forefront of driving zero emission transatlantic flight within a generation, we are currently reviewing the Council’s membership to ensure it reflects the expertise required to deliver this challenge. Though there will always be practical limits to the size of the Council, and we are not able to accommodate all individual requests for membership.

To support the delivery of the Jet Zero Council and allow wider participation in its work, we have established Delivery Groups focussed on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and Zero Emission Flight (ZEF), which we encourage organisations with relevant interests to engage with.


Written Question
Travel: Coronavirus
Thursday 17th June 2021

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the difference in the cost of COVID-19 tests for travellers (1) entering, and (2) leaving, the UK.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

It is a matter for each country to decide on appropriate health measures and how Covid-19 tests are provided. We recognise that the cost of tests can be high. The Government is working with the travel industry and private testing providers to see how we can further reduce costs for the British public while ensuring travel is as safe as possible.

The price of tests has reduced significantly in recent weeks, bringing the UK in line with other countries, and some providers are offering testing packages for arrivals countries on the green list starting at £43. The Government is considering a range of options to lower the cost of testing, including cheaper tests being used when passengers return home.


Written Question
Borders: Coronavirus
Monday 8th February 2021

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a negative result to a COVID-19 lateral flow test undertaken by the NHS presented to Border Force is sufficient evidence that the bearer is (1) not infected, and (2) eligible to travel.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has always been clear that NHS Test and Trace tests should not be used for the purposes of international travel. This is to safeguard testing capacity.

NHS Test and Trace tests may not be used for the Test to Release for International Travel scheme. Travellers must use a test from a private testing provider on the gov.uk private providers list. NHS Test and Trace is not on this list, and for this reason, does not meet the minimum standards required to legally release a traveller from self-isolation upon providing a negative result.

NHS Test and Trace does not provide a result notification in a format that would be acceptable to meet the new pre-departure testing requirements, and as such, will not be accepted for travel to England.

Lateral Flow Tests may meet the minimum standards of more than 80% sensitivity and more than 97% specificity for the pre-departure testing regime, depending on the individual test product. The test must be provided by a testing provider which can meets these minimum standards, as well as the standards regarding the result notification requirements.


Written Question

Question Link

Wednesday 28th June 2017

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to obviate danger to civil aircraft posted by remotely piloted aircraft as required by the International Civil Aviation Organization as communicated to contracting states in letter AN13/55-17/38.

Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) work with a wide range of partners, including the British Airline Pilots' Association and the Police, to ensure our understanding of potential hazards to aircraft remains up to date. Work is underway to better understand the risk posed by drones to commercial aircraft and ensure that the regulatory and industry responses remain fit for purpose. The Government has conducted a consultation to determine if further measures are needed in this area and will be responding to this soon with its intended future actions.

We have also been working closely with the CAA and industry to adapt and strengthen existing measures and mitigations as drone use and the related technology evolves. This has led to a safety awareness and education campaign aimed at leisure drone users, the launch of a new www.dronesafe.uk website, and a free new app ‘Drone Assist’ by NATS, which shows users where they should and should not fly in their locality.