Airports Slot Allocation (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021

Lord Naseby Excerpts

Tuesday 19th January 2021 Grand Committee

[Lord Naseby (Con) [V]]

Can you hear me? I will make a short speech.

In the past, I have advised Singapore Airlines and SriLankan Airlines. I am a former RAF pilot and I support the third runway at London Heathrow. I thank the Minister for her practical and workable solution, delivered on time and with clarity. It is very welcome. However, I wonder whether she can expand on the prediction that it will take until 2025 for normality to return, given the creativity of the travel industry in the UK. I am not entirely clear what happens if a new airline decides that it wants to get going and to have slots. What will the procedure be? I would be grateful for clarification on that point.

I have two other small points to make. First, the Minister talked in her briefing about categories of airport in the UK, such as level 3. I am surprised that Glasgow, with its international connections, is not a level 3 airport. I assume that it is not big enough. Secondly, I re-emphasise what other colleagues have said: these proposals are very welcome but our poor airports are stranded at the moment, almost like whales out of the sea. They are losing millions of pounds. The Government have done something but something more needs to happen. One possible area for this is on air passenger duty.

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Baroness Garden of Frognal) (LD)]

Since the noble Lord, Lord Mann, has withdrawn, I now call the noble Baroness, Lady Randerson.