Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the International Civil Aviation Organisation on introducing international protocols for the management of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The UK is an active participant in ICAO and has played a leading role in the ICAO Civil Aviation Recovery Taskforce (CART), which was set up specifically to address the aviation industry’s recovery from the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Common international public health measures for aviation are discussed, and guidance was published by CART on 2 June.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) the Home Secretary on the principle of exemptions from quarantine measures introduced in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Secretary of State has held extensive discussions about exemptions from self-isolation measures with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Home Secretary. Details about those who are exempt from the self-isolation measures were published on 22 May. The list of?exemptions will be kept under regular review.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what economic impact assessment he has made of of quarantine measures in response to covid-19 outbreak on (a) airlines and (b) airports.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Department for Transport has ensured the economic impact assessment, led by the Treasury, reflects the impacts the measures will have on the transport sector and the wider economy, and ensured specific and targeted exemptions to mitigate the impact.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the governments of (a) Greece, (b) Spain, (c) France and (d) Italy on the practical operation of the proposed quarantine system for inbound travellers as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Secretary of State for Transport has had no such discussions with the Governments of those specific states about the operation of UK measures.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with Manchester Airports Group on the introduction of a quarantine period for inbound UK passengers as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
My right hon. Friend, the Member for Welwyn Hatfield and I hold regular meetings with the aviation sector including Manchester Airports Group where self-isolation has been discussed.
The?Department for Transport?has?engaged with the aviation sector on this issue?and will continue to do so in the coming weeks.?This includes working with?senior?representatives?from the aviation industry as?part of the Aviation Restart and Recovery Expert Steering Group to which Manchester Airports Group has representation. This group serves as the working group for the International Aviation Taskforce – one of five sectoral taskforces announced by the Government on 13 May to support the development of guidelines for safely reopening?businesses.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions his Department has had with the International Civil Aviation Organization on the implementation of Government plans for quarantine for inbound air passengers.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
Department for Transport (DfT) officials have been attending weekly International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council Aviation Recovery Task-Force (CART) which was set up specifically to address the aviation industry’s recovery from the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This brings together states, multilateral organisations and industry bodies. Potential health measures for aviation, such as the planned mandatory self-isolation for inbound passengers, were discussed in both of these forums.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with Getlink plc on the introduction of a quarantine period for inbound UK Eurostar passengers as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department for Transport has engaged in extensive discussions with senior officials at both Eurotunnel (part of Getlink Group) and Eurostar in the run up to and after the announcement made by the Prime Minister on Sunday 10 May. These discussions encompassed further measures at the border for international arrivals to safeguard public health, including the requirements for arriving passengers to self-isolate for 14 days.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of whether common international health standards for aviation can be agreed in order for the Government to be able to review its policy on the 14-day quarantine period for people entering the UK during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Department for Transport is working closely with a range of international partners, including ICAO and IATA, to drive forward a shared agenda on public health measures for international travel. We are also monitoring closely measures already taken by other countries to prevent the spread of Covid-19 from air travel.
We are guided by the science on self-isolation requirements, which for now will cover all arrivals into the UK, bar a small number of exemptions. We will carefully consider if a risk based approach between countries is possible.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support he plans to provide to the UK aviation industry in light of the policy proposal for a 14 day quarantine for inbound passengers to the UK during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The aviation sector plays a key role in our future as a global trading nation, as well as playing a critical role in local economies.?However, it is important that we?actively?manage the risk of imported cases of coronavirus being introduced to the UK from overseas.?The?Prime?Minister has?set out the?need to ensure that we do not import new cases of Covid-19 as the UK’s R?rate?continues to decline. These measures,?which?we will be introducing in due course as part of the Government’s overall efforts, will help keep transmission in the UK as low as possible.
The Government continues to support businesses through one of the most generous economic packages provided anywhere in the world.? If businesses find themselves in severe and urgent financial difficulties, even following these unprecedented support measures, then we remain open to discussion about bespoke financial support, but only as a last resort. Any intervention would need to be on terms to protect the interests of taxpayers.
In time, the aviation sector will begin to restart and recover, and we are exploring measures that could be deployed in the aviation sector to ensure the public can be confident that flying is a safe and healthy way of travelling. Any changes to our approach will be led by advice from SAGE and the Chief Medical Officer.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a common international standard on screening measures on travel during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Department for Transport is working with a range of international partners, including ICAO and IATA, to assess the impacts of the current crisis on international aviation. We recognise that aviation is a fundamentally international industry and thus common measures are highly desirable.
Through the newly established International Aviation Taskforce we aim to establish a baseline of measures in the form of government guidance, based on the available evidence, and for these to become widespread and well-understood, avoiding confusion and uncertainty for both industry and passengers.