Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to take steps to (a) establish a long-term price support mechanism for sustainable aviation fuels and (b) create a sustainable aviation fuel industry.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Government believes that sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) have a crucial role to play in reaching our goal of net zero by 2050. We already provide strong support to the sector through the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) and our low carbon fuel industry competitions.
To further build on this existing support, as part of the Prime Minister's 10 Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, the Government announced £15m for a new SAF industry competition, £3m to set up a SAF clearing house, and an intention to consult on a blending mandate to drive SAF uptake in the UK. This consultation is planned for the summer and will be complemented by supporting ambitions presented in the department’s upcoming Transport Decarbonisation Plan and Net Zero Aviation Consultation.
The Government will continue working with stakeholders through the Jet Zero Council SAF Delivery Group and other channels to explore what further policies might be needed to support the development of the sector, including demand-side measures or business models that address price risk.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of effect of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement on the UK’s charter, cargo and freight aviation sectors.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
Under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), UK airlines - whether passenger, cargo, scheduled or non-scheduled - can operate without restriction between points in the UK and points in the EU. Furthermore, the TCA recognises that, at their discretion, EU Member states may permit UK airlines to operate non-scheduled air services within and beyond the EU (so long as they are not a “disguised” form of scheduled service). The TCA also allows the UK and individual EU Member States to negotiate and agree a bilateral exchange of “5th Freedom” all-cargo rights. My officials are engaging closely with EU Member States and with industry on these matters.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on the negotiation of Bilateral Air Services Agreements with EU member states.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
Under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) the UK and individual EU Member States may negotiate bilateral exchanges of “5th Freedom” all-cargo rights and reach agreement on arrangements relating to the issuance of operational permissions. My officials are currently engaged in discussions with EU Member States on these arrangements.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) safety and (b) environmental effect of the use of Antonov An-12 aircraft for cargo flights in and out of the UK.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The CAA has checked multiple An-12 aircraft in 2021 through ramp inspections to verify they comply with international safety standards and have the relevant permits and certificates. No safety concerns have been identified.
Aircraft are certified by their state of design against ICAO noise and emissions certification standards if they are to operate to, from, or within the UK. No separate assessment has been made by the UK of the An-12’s environmental performance.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the barriers for UK airlines wishing to wet-lease within the EU since the introduction of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
Under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), UK airlines may operate using aircraft wet-leased from UK or EU wet lease providers. This helps to maximise the operational flexibility of UK airlines – for instance allowing them to address technical difficulties or short-term capacity constraints. In order to wet lease from UK wet lease providers, EU airlines must first satisfy their EU Member State’s competent authority that this is justified on the basis of exceptional needs, seasonal capacity needs or operational difficulties.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the rate at which (a) the Civil Aviation Authority is issuing Article 250 permits to EU-based airlines to operate in the UK and (b) European aviation authorities are issuing permits to UK-based carriers operating in the EU.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
My officials continue to work closely with the UK Civil Aviation Authority and EU Member States, to ensure permissions for UK and EU airlines are issued by both sides with minimal procedural delay. Significant progress has already been made in securing reciprocal arrangements with EU Member States whereby permission to operate non-scheduled services can be granted for a period of time, rather than for each individual operation. This should mean that air services between points in the UK and points in the EU – including urgent “go now” operations – can take place without procedural delay.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department’s announcement on business rates for airports on 24 November 2020, if he will publish the amount of business rates relief granted to each airport in England in 2020.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
No funding has yet been provided to airports through the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS) which was announced on 24 November 2020.
The Scheme will be launched shortly, with payments made to successful applicants this financial year.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish end of transition period guidance to (a) employers, (b) crew and (c) international flag states in the shipping industry.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Department for Transport, together with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, has published specific guidance on the recognition of seafarer certificates of competency from 1 January 2021 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/recognition-of-seafarer-certificates-of-competency-from-1-january-2021), as well as guidance for shipping companies on exemptions from maritime security notifications (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/getting-an-exemption-from-maritime-security-notifications-from-1-january-2021).
Government has published extensive transition guidance, of relevance to employers and employees across the whole economy, which is available at https://www.gov.uk/transition. The need for further specific guidance for the shipping industry is being kept under review.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Maritime and Coastguard Agency and (b) UK Chamber of Shipping on administrative changes to maritime security notifications on merchant shipping routes between UK and EU ports from 1 January 2021.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
Vessel operators are required to provide security information via pre-arrival notifications (PANs) through the Consolidated European Reporting System (CERS), prior to arrival into a UK port. The PAN includes details of the ship, previous port history, crew and passenger lists and special or additional security measures being taken. Under EC Regulation 725/2004 the UK is able to provide exemptions for the operators of regular, scheduled voyages between an EU port and a UK port.
From the 1 January 2021, UK legislation will allow the UK to continue to provide exemptions to vessels coming into the UK from EU ports, but operators will need to begin providing information if they have previously had an exemption in place. EU member states will not be able to issue exemptions to vessels operating scheduled services from the UK, irrespective of where the ship is registered or what country’s flag it sails under.
Industry stakeholders have been made aware of the change through stakeholder meetings, such as the National Maritime Security Committee for Industry, and officials wrote to industry stakeholders on a number of occasions to inform them of the change. The change was also published on GOV.UK on the 19 December 2018 and is available at the link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/getting-an-exemption-from-maritime-security-notifications-from-1-january-2021#what-shipping-companies-must-do
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what financial and other support he plans to provide to Maritime UK’s regional cluster development programme to enable coastal towns and cities to capitalise on global maritime sector growth opportunities.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
It is our belief that no other country globally can currently match the UK’s strengths in its maritime clusters. The Government recognises the significant role that clusters have in the regional and national economy, and also our international competitiveness. Therefore, in our ground-breaking Maritime 2050 strategy, we committed to promoting and enhancing our clusters in London and across the country, in places like Southampton, Liverpool, the Tyne, and across Scotland.
We are working closely with Maritime UK, including its Regional Council, as we look to support the sector’s future recovery from the global COVID-19 pandemic. We are working to identify where existing Maritime 2050 recommendations should be prioritised and the case for new ones where needed. Working together we can identify how best to continue to support the development and growth of our maritime clusters and the important role they play in our coastal communities and regions. The Department intends to publish a route-map setting out our post-Covid-19 plan later in the year.