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Written Question
Motor Vehicles: Polyethylene Glycol
Monday 18th December 2023

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the motor industry to use polyethylene glycol in vehicle cooling systems; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits for the environment of using this chemical.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department has made no assessment on this issue. The design of vehicle cooling systems is the responsibility of manufacturers.


Written Question
Aviation: Russia
Tuesday 8th March 2022

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether a private or chartered aircraft registered in a third country other than the Russian Federation is prevented from travelling to the Russian Federation under the terms of the NOTAM issued on the 25 February 2022 at 21:00 GMT.

Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

The restrictions prohibit any aircraft registered in Russia, or any aircraft, - irrespective of the state registry - that is owned, chartered, or operated by a person connected with Russia, from using UK airspace.

On 25 February, in a tit for tat response, the Russian authorities banned aircraft owned, leased or operated by a person associated with the UK, or registered in the UK from landing at Russia's airports and from crossing its airspace.

We have remained engaged with NATS throughout and grateful to their work to reject flight plans submitted by Russian registered aircraft and working with us to investigate any potential breaches. NATS has confirmed to the Department that there have been two flights, operated by non-UK airlines, from UK to Russia since the 25 February.

Regarding notifications of the restrictions, a NOTAM was issued at 21:00 on 25 February informing all aviation stakeholders of the new strengthened restrictions. It is the responsibility of all aviation, including HIAL and Inverness Airport, to check NOTAMs. A further guidance was sent to the aviation industry, including HIAL, via the CAA Siren system on 26 February at 18:59. This provided the industry further clarification on the restrictions; however, the industry would have been fully aware restrictions were in place via the appropriate route, which was the NOTAM.


Written Question
Aviation: Russia
Tuesday 8th March 2022

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many flights in the UK have been given air traffic control authorisation to travel to a destination in the Russian Federation since the issuing of the NOTAM on the 25 February 2022 at 21:00 GMT.

Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

The restrictions prohibit any aircraft registered in Russia, or any aircraft, - irrespective of the state registry - that is owned, chartered, or operated by a person connected with Russia, from using UK airspace.

On 25 February, in a tit for tat response, the Russian authorities banned aircraft owned, leased or operated by a person associated with the UK, or registered in the UK from landing at Russia's airports and from crossing its airspace.

We have remained engaged with NATS throughout and grateful to their work to reject flight plans submitted by Russian registered aircraft and working with us to investigate any potential breaches. NATS has confirmed to the Department that there have been two flights, operated by non-UK airlines, from UK to Russia since the 25 February.

Regarding notifications of the restrictions, a NOTAM was issued at 21:00 on 25 February informing all aviation stakeholders of the new strengthened restrictions. It is the responsibility of all aviation, including HIAL and Inverness Airport, to check NOTAMs. A further guidance was sent to the aviation industry, including HIAL, via the CAA Siren system on 26 February at 18:59. This provided the industry further clarification on the restrictions; however, the industry would have been fully aware restrictions were in place via the appropriate route, which was the NOTAM.


Written Question
Inverness Airport: Air Traffic Control
Tuesday 8th March 2022

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will investigate whether the NATS Centre at Prestwick gave authorisation for a private jet to travel from Highlands and Islands Airport to Moscow on 26 February 2022; and if he will make an assessment of the compatibility of that authorisation with the NOTAM issued on the 25 February 2022 at 21:00 GMT.

Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

The restrictions prohibit any aircraft registered in Russia, or any aircraft, - irrespective of the state registry - that is owned, chartered, or operated by a person connected with Russia, from using UK airspace.

On 25 February, in a tit for tat response, the Russian authorities banned aircraft owned, leased or operated by a person associated with the UK, or registered in the UK from landing at Russia's airports and from crossing its airspace.

We have remained engaged with NATS throughout and grateful to their work to reject flight plans submitted by Russian registered aircraft and working with us to investigate any potential breaches. NATS has confirmed to the Department that there have been two flights, operated by non-UK airlines, from UK to Russia since the 25 February.

Regarding notifications of the restrictions, a NOTAM was issued at 21:00 on 25 February informing all aviation stakeholders of the new strengthened restrictions. It is the responsibility of all aviation, including HIAL and Inverness Airport, to check NOTAMs. A further guidance was sent to the aviation industry, including HIAL, via the CAA Siren system on 26 February at 18:59. This provided the industry further clarification on the restrictions; however, the industry would have been fully aware restrictions were in place via the appropriate route, which was the NOTAM.


Written Question
Inverness Airport: Air Traffic Control
Tuesday 8th March 2022

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Civil Aviation Authorities Siren notification concerning the NOTAM issued on 25 February 2022 at 21:00 GMT was communicated to Highlands and Islands Airport.

Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

The restrictions prohibit any aircraft registered in Russia, or any aircraft, - irrespective of the state registry - that is owned, chartered, or operated by a person connected with Russia, from using UK airspace.

On 25 February, in a tit for tat response, the Russian authorities banned aircraft owned, leased or operated by a person associated with the UK, or registered in the UK from landing at Russia's airports and from crossing its airspace.

We have remained engaged with NATS throughout and grateful to their work to reject flight plans submitted by Russian registered aircraft and working with us to investigate any potential breaches. NATS has confirmed to the Department that there have been two flights, operated by non-UK airlines, from UK to Russia since the 25 February.

Regarding notifications of the restrictions, a NOTAM was issued at 21:00 on 25 February informing all aviation stakeholders of the new strengthened restrictions. It is the responsibility of all aviation, including HIAL and Inverness Airport, to check NOTAMs. A further guidance was sent to the aviation industry, including HIAL, via the CAA Siren system on 26 February at 18:59. This provided the industry further clarification on the restrictions; however, the industry would have been fully aware restrictions were in place via the appropriate route, which was the NOTAM.


Written Question
Aviation: Russia
Tuesday 8th March 2022

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Civil Aviation Authorities Siren notification concerning the NOTAM issued on 25 February 2022 at 21:00 GMT was communicated to all UK airports.

Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

The restrictions prohibit any aircraft registered in Russia, or any aircraft, - irrespective of the state registry - that is owned, chartered, or operated by a person connected with Russia, from using UK airspace.

On 25 February, in a tit for tat response, the Russian authorities banned aircraft owned, leased or operated by a person associated with the UK, or registered in the UK from landing at Russia's airports and from crossing its airspace.

We have remained engaged with NATS throughout and grateful to their work to reject flight plans submitted by Russian registered aircraft and working with us to investigate any potential breaches. NATS has confirmed to the Department that there have been two flights, operated by non-UK airlines, from UK to Russia since the 25 February.

Regarding notifications of the restrictions, a NOTAM was issued at 21:00 on 25 February informing all aviation stakeholders of the new strengthened restrictions. It is the responsibility of all aviation, including HIAL and Inverness Airport, to check NOTAMs. A further guidance was sent to the aviation industry, including HIAL, via the CAA Siren system on 26 February at 18:59. This provided the industry further clarification on the restrictions; however, the industry would have been fully aware restrictions were in place via the appropriate route, which was the NOTAM.


Written Question
Assignation Statement (Prescribed Information) (Scotland) Regulations 1991
Tuesday 16th February 2021

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the effect has been of the Assignation Statement (Prescribed Information) (Scotland) Regulations S.I 2152/1991 (S.177).

Answered by Rachel Maclean

Roads and bridges in Scotland, including road user charges and tolls on them, are the responsibility of the Scottish Government.


Written Question
Bristow Helicopters
Friday 3rd May 2019

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what contingency plans his Department has implemented in the event that Bristow's Helicopters Ltd is unable to fulfil its obligations on search and rescue.

Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)

The Department keeps its contingency plans under continual review should Bristow Helicopters Ltd be at any time unable to fulfil its contractual obligations.

These plans include comprehensive contractual provisions to step in and take over the service in the unlikely event that it is required to do so. The detail of these plans is commercially sensitive.


Written Question
Rescue Services
Friday 26th April 2019

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has made to support mountain rescue teams with helicopter cover in the event that Bristow Helicopters cannot sustain its operations.

Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)

The current difficulties are contained within Bristow Group and do not affect the Department for Transport’s contract with Bristow Helicopters Limited. Bristow Helicopters Ltd continues to fulfil its contractual obligations with the UK Government. The Department for Transport has protections in its contract to guarantee a search and rescue helicopter service in the unlikely event that these obligations should go unfulfilled.


Written Question
Regional Airports
Thursday 28th April 2016

Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to review the effectiveness of the public service obligation for regional airports.

Answered by Robert Goodwill

The Government plans to update its Aviation Policy Framework this year. As part of this update the Government will consider the role that public service obligations can play in serving regional airports.