Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the reason is for the time taken to allocate funding under the Regional Air Connectivity Fund; and when an announcement of the launch of the new air links under the Fund will be made.

The Government announced last year financial support for two public service obligation routes, Dundee – London City and Newquay Cornwall – London Gatwick from the Regional Air Connectivity Fund.

In addition to this the Government undertook earlier this year an initial application stage for airlines to bid for start-up aid funding. The Government will announce after the July Budget how we will take this forward.