Asked by: Lord Stone of Blackheath (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the resumption of flights by Italy and Germany to Sharm el-Sheikh; what plans they have to allow the resumption of such flights from the UK; and what assessment they have made of the impact of the UK's ban on flights to that city on the likelihood of terror attacks in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
It is for each country to define the security requirements they need to protect their citizens. We do not comment on the aviation security measures that other countries have in place, nor do we assess other impacts on the current restrictions on flights.
The UK continues to work closely with the Egyptian authorities, sharing aviation security expertise, and we look forward to achieving the return of flights when the situation allows.
The terrorist threat level to the UK is kept under constant review by the independent Joint Terrorist Analysis Centre, whose judgements about the threat level are made on the basis of the very latest intelligence. However, it is long standing government policy not to comment in detail on security arrangements.
Asked by: Lord Stone of Blackheath (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of their ban on direct flights to Sharm el-Sheikh, and in particular of any resulting decline of employment in the tourism sector there, on the prevalence of terrorism in that city.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Department for Transport conducts expert assessments on aviation security at overseas airports. We do not assess the impact on the tourism and airline industries of any restrictions on flights.
The UK continues to work closely with Egypt, sharing aviation security expertise and we look forward to achieving the return of flights when the situation allows.
Asked by: Lord Stone of Blackheath (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 5 November 2018 (HL11004), what criteria they use to assess the security requirements of airports.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
As stated in my written answer on 5 November 2018 (HL11004), it is long standing government policy not to comment in detail on security matters, including what criteria we use to assess security requirements at airports.
The UK Government continues to work closely with its Egyptian counterparts, sharing its expertise in establishing effective security arrangements at all Egyptian airports including Sharm el-Sheikh. We hope to be in a position to resume direct flights when the circumstances are right.
Asked by: Lord Stone of Blackheath (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to allow flights to Sharm el-Sheikh again; if so, when; and if not, why not.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The UK Government continues to work closely with its Egyptian counterparts, sharing its expertise in establishing effective security arrangements at all Egyptian airports including Sharm el-Sheikh.
It is long standing government policy not to comment in detail on security matters. However, we look forward to achieving the return of flights once we can be assured that the necessary security requirements can be sustained.
Asked by: Lord Stone of Blackheath (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk to UK citizens resulting from their decision to ban flights between the UK and Sharm el Sheikh.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
Department for Transport makes regular assessments of the risk posed to flights inbound to and outbound from the UK. We share the former with the relevant host government, to agree on appropriate security measures, but for obvious reasons do not publish such assessments.
Asked by: Lord Stone of Blackheath (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 7 November (HL2559), when they last carried out an assessment of Sharm el Sheikh airport; and whether that assessment involved UK officials visiting that airport.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
Further to my response on 7 November (HL2559), Department for Transport officials have regularly visited Sharm el Sheikh airport. However, it is long-standing government policy not to publish the detail of aviation security assessments, including the dates of those assessments, for any location for reasons of both security and protecting international relations.
Asked by: Lord Stone of Blackheath (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have reviewed the ban on direct flights between the UK and Sharm el Sheikh, in the light of such flights being available from other European states, including Italy, Germany, and Belgium.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Department for Transport carries out regular assessments of aviation security at all last points of departure airports to the UK from Egypt. The Government works closely with international partners, including airlines, airports and the Egyptian Government, on security standards. Global aviation security arrangements are kept under constant review. It is the responsibility for each Government to determine their own advice on where it is safe for their citizens or carriers to fly.
Asked by: Lord Stone of Blackheath (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the statistics provided in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 showing that the London Borough of Merton did not comply with 87 per cent of the decisions by independent adjudicators regarding the issuing of parking penalty fines, what assessment they have made of (1) the value for money of, and (2) the efficacy of, independent adjudicators who consider and make recommendations on such fines.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
No such assessment has been made. The adjudication services are not administered by central Government. However there is a distinction between recommendations, which do not have to be followed by authorities, and adjudicators’ directions following successful appeals, which must be complied with in law.
Asked by: Lord Stone of Blackheath (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the growth of the use of military, commercial, and private drones, what plans, if any, they have to license or control their use, especially in relation to the potential aural and visual impact of non-military drones on urban, rural and coastal airspaces.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
Civilian Remotely Piloted Aircraft operations are closely regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority and are treated in the same manner as that of an equivalent manned aircraft. However, until such time that remotely piloted aircraft systems can demonstrate that they are both airworthy and capable of avoiding other airspace users, all operations must be contained within segregated airspace, to which access for manned aircraft is prevented or closely controlled.
The Department for Transport is currently developing its policy in respect of civil Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, and in 2015 intends to engage in a public dialogue on issues such as environmental impact, safety and privacy.