Asked by: Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative - Rochester and Strood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has plans to bring forward legislative proposals to regulate the charges imposed on port operators in the UK.
Answered by Robert Courts
The Government has no current plans to make changes to the regulation of charges imposed on port operators and will continue to utilise the mechanisms that exist in the Harbours Act 1964 for managing objections over Harbour Dues. Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, a review of whether the Port Services Regulations 2019 are required will be initiated as part of broader EU regulatory reviews.
Asked by: Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative - Rochester and Strood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to regulate port charges.
Answered by Robert Courts
The Government has no current plans to make changes to the regulation of charges imposed on port operators. Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, a review of whether the Port Services Regulations 2019 are required will be initiated as part of broader EU regulatory reviews.
Asked by: Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative - Rochester and Strood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has plans to increase the competitiveness of ports to support operators that are facing high charges.
Answered by Robert Courts
The UK has a very competitive, privately operated ports sector. The Government is committed to supporting this competitiveness and has an ongoing dialogue with port operators to ensure their interests are fully taken into account.
Asked by: Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative - Rochester and Strood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has plans to bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Harbours Act 1964 in light of the changing demands on UK ports.
Answered by Robert Courts
The Government has no current plans to amend the Harbours Act 1964, but will keep the port regulatory regime under review to ensure it remains fit for purpose.
Asked by: Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative - Rochester and Strood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to reduce port charges in the UK.
Answered by Robert Courts
The Government has no current plans to make changes to the charges levied by port operators.
Asked by: Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative - Rochester and Strood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department as made of the gross value added to the UK economy by the general aviation sector in the last 12 months.
Answered by John Hayes
In March 2015 the Government published research that the Department for Transport commissioned from York Aviation entitled “The Economic Value of General Aviation in the UK”.
That research contained an estimate of the gross value added to the economy by general aviation in the UK as being £3.8bn direct and indirect economic benefit, supporting 38,000 jobs.
We have commissioned research on what a strategic network of general aviation airfields might look like and this research may review that calculation.
Asked by: Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative - Rochester and Strood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of airfields in the UK.
Answered by John Hayes
The majority of airfields in the UK are privately run and owned.
The Government takes the matter of airport capacity seriously. In March 2015 the Government published research that the Department for Transport commissioned from York Aviation entitled “The Economic Value of General Aviation in the UK”.
That research contained an estimate of the jobs linked to the general aviation sector in the UK being 38,000.
We are commissioning research on what a strategic network of general aviation airfields might look like and this research may review that calculation.
Asked by: Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative - Rochester and Strood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase regional aviation capacity.
Answered by John Hayes
The Government recognises that regional air connectivity across the UK is very important and airports support regional economies, create skilled employment opportunities and enable business and leisure travel. However, the UK aviation market operates in a competitive, commercial environment; it is therefore for airlines to determine which routes they operate.
A priority for the new Aviation Strategy (Call for Evidence published July 2017) will be to ensure that the aviation sector continues to provide and improve regional connectivity across the regions and nations of the UK in a way that benefits the country as a whole. Also, as part of the Call for Evidence we asked for views on the proposed policy to support airports throughout the UK making the best use of their existing runways, subject to environmental issues being addressed, and we are now considering those responses.
Asked by: Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative - Rochester and Strood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to discuss with the Department for Communities and Local Government the co-ordination of (a) the drafting of the General Aviation Strategy document, (b) the drawing up of the National Planning Policy Framework and (c) general aviation policy.
Answered by John Hayes
The National Planning Policy Framework was published on 27 March 2012 and the General Aviation Strategy on 25 March 2015. Departments across Government are involved in discussing aviation policy, including in relation to general aviation.
With regard to (c), Departments across government will be involved in discussing aviation policy, including policy in relation to General Aviation, as we develop the new Aviation Strategy.
Asked by: Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative - Rochester and Strood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what international rules will govern cross-border general aviation traffic after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by John Hayes
The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU, including future arrangements for the regulation of cross-border general aviation traffic. Until the UK leaves the EU, EU law continues to apply alongside national rules. The Department for Transport is working closely with the sector to best understand its requirements.