Asked by: Lord MacKenzie of Culkein (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the economic impact of no deal being made on the right of UK airlines to fly between EU member states and third party countries in relation to which the legal right to fly is currently held by the EU and not the UK.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It will be in the interests of both sides in the negotiation to maintain closely integrated aviation markets. The Government continues to work closely with the aviation sector to ensure this industry continues to be a major success story for the British economy. Air transport and aerospace add at least £22 billion to the UK economy each year.
The Government plans to negotiate the best possible relationship between the UK and EU in the field of aviation with a smooth and orderly transition. We will approach the discussions with ambition, giving citizens and businesses as much certainty as possible, as early as possible.
The opening up of access to air services helps to deliver connectivity, choice and value for money that benefits consumers and businesses both here and abroad. Seeking new aviation arrangements is a high priority for the Department for Transport, not just with the EU but also with those states where we currently rely on EU-negotiated arrangements for market access.
However, a responsible government should prepare for all potential outcomes, including the unlikely scenario in which no mutually satisfactory agreement can be reached. That is exactly what we are doing across the whole of Government.
Asked by: Lord MacKenzie of Culkein (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are developing a contingency plan for aviation in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal to ensure that access rights for the UK and the EU airlines are maintained after March 2019.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It will be in the interests of both sides in the negotiation to maintain closely integrated aviation markets. The Government continues to work closely with the aviation sector to ensure this industry continues to be a major success story for the British economy. Air transport and aerospace add at least £22 billion to the UK economy each year.
The Government plans to negotiate the best possible relationship between the UK and EU in the field of aviation with a smooth and orderly transition. We will approach the discussions with ambition, giving citizens and businesses as much certainty as possible, as early as possible.
The opening up of access to air services helps to deliver connectivity, choice and value for money that benefits consumers and businesses both here and abroad. Seeking new aviation arrangements is a high priority for the Department for Transport, not just with the EU but also with those states where we currently rely on EU-negotiated arrangements for market access.
However, a responsible government should prepare for all potential outcomes, including the unlikely scenario in which no mutually satisfactory agreement can be reached. That is exactly what we are doing across the whole of Government.
Asked by: Lord MacKenzie of Culkein (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 19 July (HL1088), in developing their plans to negotiate the best possible relationship between the UK and the EU in the field of aviation what steps they intend to take to provide clarity and certainty regarding access to the Single Aviation Market for (1) airlines that intend to make decisions about whether to increase capacity in the UK, and (2) passengers intending to plan holidays, for the 18 months leading up to March 2019; and whether they are taking steps to avoid the risk of uncertainty by seeking an early interim agreement with the EU-27 on UK-EU aviation traffic rights by the end of this year.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It will be in the interests of both sides in the negotiation to maintain closely integrated aviation markets. The Government continues to work closely with the aviation sector to ensure this industry continues to be a major success story for the British economy. Air transport and aerospace add at least £22 billion to the UK economy each year.
The Government plans to negotiate the best possible relationship between the UK and EU in the field of aviation with a smooth and orderly transition. We will approach the discussions with ambition, giving citizens and businesses as much certainty as possible, as early as possible.
The opening up of access to air services helps to deliver connectivity, choice and value for money that benefits consumers and businesses both here and abroad. Seeking new aviation arrangements is a high priority for the Department for Transport, not just with the EU but also with those states where we currently rely on EU-negotiated arrangements for market access.
However, a responsible government should prepare for all potential outcomes, including the unlikely scenario in which no mutually satisfactory agreement can be reached. That is exactly what we are doing across the whole of Government.
Asked by: Lord MacKenzie of Culkein (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of whether there is a legal mechanism by which airlines operating from the UK can fly to territories in the EU (1) if the UK ceases to be a member of the European Aviation Safety Agency, or (2) is no longer party to the European Open Skies programme.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU and plans to negotiate the best possible relationship between the UK and the EU in the field of aviation.
As part of the exit negotiations, the Government will discuss with the EU and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of aviation safety and standards.
Asked by: Lord MacKenzie of Culkein (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there has been a recent review into regulations governing ship registration with a view to increasing the number of ships on the UK shipping register; and if so, what was the outcome.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK Ship Register (UKSR) Advisory Panel Report, issued in May 2015, recommended that government review the regulations on the registration of ships under the UK Flag to identify changes which will attract ships to the UK Flag, without reducing standards.
An amending Statutory Instrument is currently in preparation to redefine the meaning of an “original document”, clarifying where hard copies of documents must be submitted to allow registration. This aims to improve efficiency within the registration process and enable the introduction of online registration.
Further opportunities to improve legislation in relation to ship registration will be considered as part the wider UKSR transformation programme. However, no proposals have yet been developed.
Asked by: Lord MacKenzie of Culkein (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what research is being undertaken to find improved methods, for example the use of radar and optical satellites, to track and monitor merchant and fishing vessels which switch off their Automatic Identification System signals.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Other than the Channel Navigation Information Service, that monitors ships movements in the Dover Strait, Her Majesty’s Coastguard does not actively monitor all vessel movements around the United Kingdom’s coastal waters.
Her Majesty’s Coastguard has recently supported law enforcement authorities in identifying anomalous vessel movements specifically in the Dover Strait by trialling a new radar system that can identify movements for those vessels that are not transmitting an Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal or have a legal requirement to have AIS device fitted.
The trial was an operational success and it is hoped to expand this specific capability in to other maritime areas that intelligence suggests criminal activity is taking place.
Asked by: Lord MacKenzie of Culkein (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many vessels have been examined in UK ports where there is suspicion of illegal activity by reason of (1) their Automatic Identification System signals being switched off, or (2) without good reason, those signals not being transmitted in line with the International Maritime Organisation SOLAS convention, during some part of their voyage to a UK port.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Her Majesty’s Coastguard monitors vessel movements within the UK’s search and rescue region to ensure maritime safety.
HM Coastguard has not requested for any vessel to be examined at a UK port because of an absence of an Automatic Identification System signal because of a suspicion of illegal activity.
Asked by: Lord MacKenzie of Culkein (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are funding research into terrestrial enhanced position navigation and timing systems.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Her Majesty’s Government is researching terrestrial technology that could supply positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) needs. For example, Innovate UK is working with other agencies to research the use of quantum technology for PNT applications. In addition, there is research into technologies that supply only some elements of PNT, including ranging mode and radar absolute positioning.
Asked by: Lord MacKenzie of Culkein (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made representations to the governments of France and Norway about their discontinuing the transmission of Enhanced Loran signals on 31 December 2015, and if not, why not.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Officials continue to discuss with their counterparts in France and Norway the decision by those countries to discontinue Loran transmissions, to understand their reasoning and plans for the disused transmitters.
Asked by: Lord MacKenzie of Culkein (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many ships were on the United Kingdom register in 2005, and in each year thereafter to date.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The number of ships over 100 GT on the UK register in 2005 and to date are detailed below. All totals were correct at 31st December in the respective year.
December 2005 1,438
December 2006 1,456
December 2007 1,481
December 2008 1,550
December 2009 1,553
December 2010 1,503
December 2011 1,469
December 2012 1,401
December 2013 1,360
December 2014 1,327
The figure for 2015 - 1,328 is up to and including 31st August.