Brexit: British Airlines Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Brexit: British Airlines

Lord Scriven Excerpts
Tuesday 5th March 2019

(5 years, 8 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Sugg Portrait Baroness Sugg
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As I said earlier, we have 111 bilateral air service agreements with third countries in our own right, and these will continue, but my noble friend is quite right: there are 17 third countries which we have an agreement with by virtue of our EU membership. The very able and hard-working air services negotiating team in the Department for Transport are making excellent progress on this. To date we have completed new bilateral agreements with the vast majority of these countries, which represent 98% of all passengers.

Lord Scriven Portrait Lord Scriven (LD)
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My Lords, further to my noble friend’s question about East Midlands Airport, can the Minister say what is happening regarding the potential clogging up of the M1, which is the only major way into East Midlands Airport? What specific plans are in place to ensure that the M1 does not clog up?

Baroness Sugg Portrait Baroness Sugg
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My Lords, we are not expecting the M1 to clog up, but, as I have said, we are working very carefully with East Midlands Airport to ensure the smooth flowing of cargo and that this very important airport continues to function regardless of the outcome of the negotiations.