Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 15 June (HL Deb col 1767), what plans they have to compensate suppliers and customers, including in the air travel and holiday let sectors, who lost money because of changes to COVID-19 restrictions made at short notice which prevented delivery of the service without breaking the law.

The Government recognises the challenging times the air transport and tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors have faced due to COVID-19. The industries have drawn on an unprecedented package of economic measures which we have put in place. We estimate that by the end of September 2021, the air transport sector (airlines, airports and related services) will have benefitted from approximately £7bn of Government support since the start of the pandemic. Over £25bn has been provided to the tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors, which includes holiday lets, in the form of grants, loans and tax breaks.

Consumers are legally entitled to a refund within a reasonable time when operators cancel.