Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure a level playing field for UK airlines and aviation businesses under current and future air services arrangements with EU member states.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Following the UK’s departure from the European Union (EU), air services arrangements between the United Kingdom (UK) and EU Member States have been governed by the Air Transport chapter of the UK-EU Trade and Corporation Agreement (the TCA). The TCA was negotiated in 2020 and provisions within the Air Transport chapter ensure fair and equal opportunities to access the market for both UK and EU carriers. The Department for Transport engages regularly with the UK aviation industry to understand any market access issues and provide support where necessary.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of how the absence of reciprocal recognition between the UK Civil Aviation Authority and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency affects the ability of UK-registered aircraft to access maintenance, repair and overhaul services in EU member states, and what steps they are taking to address those constraints.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government has been clear that it will work to reset the relationship with Europe, to strengthen ties and tackle barriers to trade. Agreements on UK-EU licensing and maintenance organisation recognition must be established through the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and agreed by the UK-EU Specialised Committee on Aviation Safety. The agenda is being agreed with the EU Commission and will be published in advance of the Specialised Committee on Aviation Safety. The Government is aware of the economic and employment impacts following EU exit, including on personnel licensing and maintenance organisation approvals, and will continue to seek expansions to the Aviation Safety Chapter of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement where appropriate.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have undertaken an assessment of the economic and employment impact on the UK aviation sector arising from the absence of mutual recognition arrangements with the European Union.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government has been clear that it will work to reset the relationship with Europe, to strengthen ties and tackle barriers to trade. Agreements on UK-EU licensing and maintenance organisation recognition must be established through the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and agreed by the UK-EU Specialised Committee on Aviation Safety. The agenda is being agreed with the EU Commission and will be published in advance of the Specialised Committee on Aviation Safety. The Government is aware of the economic and employment impacts following EU exit, including on personnel licensing and maintenance organisation approvals, and will continue to seek expansions to the Aviation Safety Chapter of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement where appropriate.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to raise the issue of mutual recognition of professional aviation qualifications, including pilot and engineer licences, at the next meeting of the Specialised Committee on Aviation Safety.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government has been clear that it will work to reset the relationship with Europe, to strengthen ties and tackle barriers to trade. Agreements on UK-EU licensing and maintenance organisation recognition must be established through the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and agreed by the UK-EU Specialised Committee on Aviation Safety. The agenda is being agreed with the EU Commission and will be published in advance of the Specialised Committee on Aviation Safety. The Government is aware of the economic and employment impacts following EU exit, including on personnel licensing and maintenance organisation approvals, and will continue to seek expansions to the Aviation Safety Chapter of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement where appropriate.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to paragraph 5.86 of the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June, what are the £663 million of technical efficiencies by category for each of the financial years until 2029–30.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Alongside the Spending Review 2025 publication, Departmental Efficiency Delivery Plans were published on GOV.UK. The Department for Transport section at paragraphs 2.83 - 2.92 provides further information on these efficiencies and table 2.10 (copied below) shows the breakdown for how the department will deliver £663million of technical efficiencies by 2028/29.
Table 2.10: Net efficiency gains vs 2025-26 planned RDEL excluding depreciation | ||||
£ million |
| 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 |
Corporate initiatives | 52 | 144 | 199 | |
Regulated settlements | 256 | 331 | 424 | |
Reform of executive agencies | 6 | 16 | 39 | |
Total efficiencies net of investment | 313 | 491 | 663 | |
Total efficiencies net of investment (%) | 3.8% | 5.9% | 8.0% | |
Memo: total gross efficiencies | 320 | 500 | 676 | |
Memo: total gross efficiencies (% | 3.9% | 6.0% | 8.2% | |
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the increase in sales of zero-emission cars that will result from the Electric Car Grant in each of the five years from 2025.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department estimates that tens of thousands of vehicles will be supported by the Electric Car Grant. The exact number of vehicles supported by the grant will depend on consumer uptake and the number of cars eligible for the grant.
The grant design will remain under review throughout its operation to ensure maximum value for money, and the scheme will be subject to amendment or early closure with no notice should funds become exhausted.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what environmental criteria must be met to qualify for (1) the £3,750 and (2) the £1,500 Electric Car Grant; and how these criteria will be assessed and by whom.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
To access the grant, manufacturers must hold a validated science-based target, which means they are committed to sustainable practices. These are assessed by the independent Science Based Target Initiative.
If a manufacturer holds a science-based target, whether and how much grant funding a vehicle could receive is based on the carbon emissions from the generation of energy used to assemble the vehicle and produce its battery. These criteria are assessed by the Department for Transport.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government with which automotive manufacturers they discussed the electric car grant, and on what dates.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The ZEV consultation earlier this year identified that upfront cost remains a significant barrier for many consumers.
Following grant announcement, the Government has had multiple calls with vehicle manufacturers and trade bodies to explain vehicle eligibility and how to apply for the grant.
We will continue these discussions to ensure manufacturers have all the information they need.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government why the price point of £37,000 or under was chosen as the entry point for the Electric Car Grant.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The price cap ensures the Electric Car Grant targets the more affordable end of the zero emission car market. We expect this grant will support a range of models, including several under £20,000 or leased at under £200 per month.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to paragraph 5.80 of the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June, what estimates or forecasts have been made of (1) the rail passenger services subsidy, (2) passenger ridership, (3) passenger revenue, and (4) efficiencies and savings through public ownership, for each of the financial years until 2029–30.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Rail passenger services subsidy is expected to reduce by over 50 per cent from £2.4 billion in 2024-25.
The Spending Review settlement assumes that passenger revenue increases by an average of 6 per cent per annum over the period.
Public ownership will result in a reduction in the fees paid to private sector operators and enable efficiencies to be delivered through horizontal integration of operators. Costs are assumed to increase by less than revenue each year, resulting in the net subsidy reduction.