To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Aviation: Training
Wednesday 13th March 2024

Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress he has made on implementing his Department's policy document entitled Options for addressing the cost of pilot training, published on 31 May 2023.

Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government is aware that the high cost of training to become a commercial airline pilot can be a significant barrier to many young people seeking to pursue a career as a pilot. The Generation Aviation programme sees Government work with industry and outreach partners to raise the profile of aviation careers and remove barriers to access so the sector can build a workforce fit for the future.

As part of this, the Department commissioned independent research to help both Government and industry understand options for addressing the high cost of pilot training in the UK. The research, published in May 2023, found that there is a possibility that the future supply of commercial pilots will not meet demand in the UK. It made recommendations about alternative funding approaches and about addressing other costs for new pilots.

Since publication, the DfT has worked closely with industry to consider next steps. Airlines have a crucial role to play in reducing the financial barriers to becoming a pilot and we applaud the airline carriers who have recently launched funding options/sponsored pathways and cadetships.

Employers in the sector have already developed a First Officer Apprenticeship (FOA) standard to support the industry to develop the skills it needs and to help it widen access to the profession. The Department for Transport and Department for Education (DfE) are working with the sector to ensure that suitable training provision is available and to support the sector to make use of the apprenticeship. My department plans to host an industry event to discuss this in more detail next week.


Written Question
Aviation: Training
Wednesday 13th March 2024

Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to introduce a Government-backed loan for pilot training.

Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government is aware that the high cost of training to become a commercial airline pilot can be a significant barrier to many young people seeking to pursue a career as a pilot. The Generation Aviation programme sees Government work with industry and outreach partners to raise the profile of aviation careers and remove barriers to access so the sector can build a workforce fit for the future.

As part of this, the Department commissioned independent research to help both Government and industry understand options for addressing the high cost of pilot training in the UK. The research, published in May 2023, found that there is a possibility that the future supply of commercial pilots will not meet demand in the UK. It made recommendations about alternative funding approaches and about addressing other costs for new pilots.

Since publication, the DfT has worked closely with industry to consider next steps. Airlines have a crucial role to play in reducing the financial barriers to becoming a pilot and we applaud the airline carriers who have recently launched funding options/sponsored pathways and cadetships.

Employers in the sector have already developed a First Officer Apprenticeship (FOA) standard to support the industry to develop the skills it needs and to help it widen access to the profession. The Department for Transport and Department for Education (DfE) are working with the sector to ensure that suitable training provision is available and to support the sector to make use of the apprenticeship. My department plans to host an industry event to discuss this in more detail next week.


Written Question
Aviation: Training
Wednesday 13th March 2024

Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to support people who are training to be pilots.

Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government is aware that the high cost of training to become a commercial airline pilot can be a significant barrier to many young people seeking to pursue a career as a pilot. The Generation Aviation programme sees Government work with industry and outreach partners to raise the profile of aviation careers and remove barriers to access so the sector can build a workforce fit for the future.

As part of this, the Department commissioned independent research to help both Government and industry understand options for addressing the high cost of pilot training in the UK. The research, published in May 2023, found that there is a possibility that the future supply of commercial pilots will not meet demand in the UK. It made recommendations about alternative funding approaches and about addressing other costs for new pilots.

Since publication, the DfT has worked closely with industry to consider next steps. Airlines have a crucial role to play in reducing the financial barriers to becoming a pilot and we applaud the airline carriers who have recently launched funding options/sponsored pathways and cadetships.

Employers in the sector have already developed a First Officer Apprenticeship (FOA) standard to support the industry to develop the skills it needs and to help it widen access to the profession. The Department for Transport and Department for Education (DfE) are working with the sector to ensure that suitable training provision is available and to support the sector to make use of the apprenticeship. My department plans to host an industry event to discuss this in more detail next week.


Written Question
Aviation: Training
Wednesday 13th March 2024

Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to launch a support scheme for pilot training.

Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government is aware that the high cost of training to become a commercial airline pilot can be a significant barrier to many young people seeking to pursue a career as a pilot. The Generation Aviation programme sees Government work with industry and outreach partners to raise the profile of aviation careers and remove barriers to access so the sector can build a workforce fit for the future.

As part of this, the Department commissioned independent research to help both Government and industry understand options for addressing the high cost of pilot training in the UK. The research, published in May 2023, found that there is a possibility that the future supply of commercial pilots will not meet demand in the UK. It made recommendations about alternative funding approaches and about addressing other costs for new pilots.

Since publication, the DfT has worked closely with industry to consider next steps. Airlines have a crucial role to play in reducing the financial barriers to becoming a pilot and we applaud the airline carriers who have recently launched funding options/sponsored pathways and cadetships.

Employers in the sector have already developed a First Officer Apprenticeship (FOA) standard to support the industry to develop the skills it needs and to help it widen access to the profession. The Department for Transport and Department for Education (DfE) are working with the sector to ensure that suitable training provision is available and to support the sector to make use of the apprenticeship. My department plans to host an industry event to discuss this in more detail next week.


Written Question
Aviation: Training
Wednesday 13th March 2024

Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to introduce VAT relief for pilot training.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Pilot training may be exempt from VAT when provided by an eligible body which meets certain conditions (for example, when provided by a government institution or certain regulated organisations), but otherwise will be subject to the standard rate. The Government currently has no plans to remove VAT on pilot flight training courses more broadly.


Written Question
Defence: Northern Ireland
Wednesday 28th February 2024

Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on support for the defence industry in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)

I am in regular discussion with ministerial colleagues regarding growth and investment, including the defence industry in Northern Ireland. The Government is committed to improving how Northern Ireland is integrated into the UK defence industry network as part of our plan for growing the economy, showcasing the skills, industry expertise and infrastructure that are thriving in Northern Ireland.


Written Question
Pensioners: Tax Allowances
Monday 19th February 2024

Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the tax-free threshold for pensioners to £15,000.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to ensuring that older people are able to live with the dignity and respect they deserve. The Personal Allowance is currently set at a level high enough to ensure that those pensioners whose sole income is the full new State Pension or basic State Pension do not pay any income tax.


Written Question
Dogs: Imports
Monday 19th February 2024

Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of banning the importation of dogs with cropped ears.

Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The practice of non-exempted mutilations such as cropping dogs' ears is abhorrent and has rightly been banned in the UK for over 10 years.

In August 2021, we consulted on proposed changes to the commercial and non-commercial movements of pets into Great Britain including the importation of dogs with cropped ears.

We are carefully reviewing the feedback from our consultation and wider engagement with stakeholders, and a summary will be published in due course.


Written Question
Public Finance: Wales
Thursday 16th November 2023

Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much additional funding his Department provided to the block grant for Wales as a consequence of the five per cent uplift determined following the agreement between the Welsh government and the UK Government on the Welsh government’s fiscal framework, published on 19 December 2016, in each financial year since 2020-21.

Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Block Grant Transparency publication sets out a full breakdown of funding for the Welsh Government, including the impact of the 5% uplift.

This publication is updated regularly, and the most recent report was published in July 2023.


Written Question
Public Expenditure: Northern Ireland
Tuesday 14th November 2023

Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how each Barnett consequential due to the Northern Ireland Executive was accrued in the period since 1 April 2023; when each was accrued; and what the value of each consequential was.

Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The UK Government provided £297 million of non-ringfenced RDEL funding to the Northern Ireland Executive at Supplementary Estimates 2022-23 to ensure the delivery of a balanced budget.

In the absence of an Executive, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland set a budget for 2023-24 via Written Ministerial Statement on 27 April 2023. This included flexibility on the repayment of the 2022-23 overspend.

The Northern Ireland Executive received £17 million non-ringfenced RDEL and £13 million general CDEL in Barnett consequentials at Mains Estimates 2023-24. Any further Barnett consequentials will be confirmed if UK Government departmental budgets change at subsequent fiscal events.

A more detailed breakdown of Barnett funding can be found in the Block Grant Transparency publication.

Block Grant Transparency: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/block-grant-transparency-july-2023