Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, what plans they have to re-assess official predictions of (1) medium, and (2) long term passenger growth in (a) international flights, (b) domestic flights, (c) long distance rail travel, and (d) motorway usage.

A new long-term forecast for travel demand in international and domestic flights is not feasible due to the uncertainty arising from COVID-19 concerning forecasting and appraisal. The Government is monitoring the evolving situation and engaging regularly with industry on their forecasts.

We have conducted long distance rail demand scenarios using assumptions on potential drivers subject to ongoing update, refinement and review. We will continue to review and evaluate the evidence for motorway usage. Our priority is to understand potential impacts resulting from COVID-19 following the update of road forecasts.

We plan to issue updated guidance in February on how to incorporate the impact of COVID-19 in medium and long-term forecasts for transport. More widely, the Government will continue to closely monitor the impact of the pandemic and to consider how to reflect this uncertainty with other drivers, including technological change and travel behaviour.