Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effects on (a) regional air routes to Northern Ireland and (b) other regional UK routes of the sale of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports to a Spanish and Australian consortium.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Government has made no such assessment. Airports, and the airlines that use them, operate in a competitive environment and it is for them to take commercial decisions on the services that they offer. The Spanish partner, Ferrovial, already had an interest in these airports through its shareholding in Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited (formerly BAA).
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to assist the Northern Ireland Executive to encourage investment through both regional and international routes to Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Rt. Hon. Member will be aware that many areas of transport policy, such as ports, are devolved to the Executive.
The Chancellor announced in this year's Budget that funding to maintain existing air connectivity to London – first announced in the 2013 Spending Round last June – will increase from £10million to £20million per year. It would also be expanded to include provision for start-up aid for new air routes from UK regional airports, including those in Northern Ireland, which handle fewer than five million passengers per year. The Department will publish guidance that will clarify how the Government will expect to interpret the European Union State aid guidelines on start-up aid for new air routes, and explain how the funding process will operate across the UK.
Previously, reflecting the wishes of the Northern Ireland Executive, the Government devolved to Northern Ireland the power to set Air Passenger Duty rates for long haul flights departing Northern Ireland. The zero rate for direct long haul flights departing from Northern Ireland took effect from 1 January 2013. This enables airports in Northern Ireland to compete effectively with airports in the Republic of Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to oppose the recent decision of the European Parliament to exclude Gibraltar from the Single European Sky project.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Government is disappointed that the European Parliament voted to suspend Gibraltar from the Single European Skies dossier. This position is inconsistent with the EU treaties – which are clear that Gibraltar is part of the EU – and inconsistent with the approach taken earlier this year on Air Passenger Rights, where the European Parliament correctly amended the legislation so it applied to Gibraltar.
The UK cannot accept a return to the pre-2006 practice of suspending Gibraltar Airport from EU aviation measures. Gibraltarians, and other EU citizens who pass through Gibraltar airport, should benefit fully from the rights accorded elsewhere in the EU.
The proposed measure needs to be agreed by both the Council and the European Parliament. The Council is currently discussing text proposed by the European Commission on the amended Single European Sky legislation (known as SES II+), which does not exclude Gibraltar. The UK will continue to oppose any proposals to exclude Gibraltar from the scope of this legislation.