Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will place in the Library a copy of his response to the letter dated 8 July 2020 from the Public and Commercial Services union, the Aviation Environment Federation and others, on the inclusion of a climate objective and of representatives from environmental and community groups, academics and other trade unions in the first phase of the Expert Steering Group on restart and recovery of the aviation industry; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The International Aviation Taskforce’s Expert Steering Group (ESG) provided industry the opportunity to feed into the practical application of any new policies and co-produce solutions where possible. ESG has met its purpose and has undoubtedly been vital in achieving the milestones of producing health measures guidance and helping government establish Travel Corridors.
Whilst our absolute focus in Government at this time is combating COVID-19, we do recognise that it’s important that we continue to work on our longer-term priorities including tackling climate change and improving air quality. The Transport Secretary announced the formation of a new ‘Jet Zero Council’, which will bring together government, aviation, academia, as well as environmental groups represented through the AEF, to make net zero emission flights possible.
A copy of the Transport Secretary’s response to the letter dated 8 July 2020 will be placed in the Library.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June to Question 59209 on Aviation: Coronavirus, when the second phase of the aviation restart and recovery expert group’s work is expected to start; what the timescale is for the review of the membership of that group; if he will make it his policy for that membership to include (a) climate change experts, (b) representatives from environmental NGOs, (c) representatives from local communities affected by airport expansion plans; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The International Aviation Taskforce’s Expert Steering Group (ESG) provided industry the opportunity to feed into the practical application of any new policies and co-produce solutions where possible. ESG has met its purpose and has undoubtedly been vital in achieving the milestones of producing health measures guidance and helping government establish Travel Corridors.
Whilst our absolute focus in Government at this time is combating COVID-19, we do recognise that it’s important that we continue to work on our longer-term priorities including tackling climate change and improving air quality. The Transport Secretary announced the formation of a new ‘Jet Zero Council’, which will bring together government, aviation, academia, as well as environmental groups represented through the AEF, to make net zero emission flights possible.
A copy of the Transport Secretary’s response to the letter dated 8 July 2020 will be placed in the Library.
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy for all UK internal flights to be sustainably powered by 2030; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
It is critical that aviation plays its part in delivering the UK’s net zero ambitions.
The Transport and Business Secretaries co-chaired the new Jet Zero Council on 22 July which brought together senior leaders in aviation, aerospace and academia to drive high ambition in the delivery of new technologies and innovative ways to cut aviation emissions.
We will also consult on our position on aviation and climate change later this year.
Asked by: Graham Brady (Conservative - Altrincham and Sale West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to support research into (a) improving aircraft efficiency and (b) new technologies to enable electric and hybrid powered flight.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The focus of our policy development and analysis to date has been on ways to meet our 2050 net zero carbon commitment. We have not specifically made an assessment of the savings that could be made if the focus were the next five or ten years, but we continue to develop policies to reduce emissions over both the short term and the medium term.
The Transport Secretary recently announced the Jet Zero Council, which will provide leadership and strategic direction to cut aviation emissions. The Council will focus on developing UK capabilities to deliver zero emission flight.
Through the Aerospace Growth Partnership, Government and industry are committing a total of £3.9bn in funding for mid-stage aerospace research and development between 2013 and 2026.
DfT’s Future Fuels for Flight and Freight Competition makes £20 million of capital funding available for projects that will produce low carbon waste-based fuels for use in aircraft and heavy goods vehicles. This government funding will be matched by the private sector, and is expected to support construction of first-of-a-kind plants by 2021. The sustainable aviation fuel produced in these plants is expected to have emissions savings of at least 70% when compared to traditional jet fuel.
Asked by: Graham Brady (Conservative - Altrincham and Sale West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the carbon emissions reductions that could be achieved in the next (a) five and (b) 10 years from (i) more sustainable aviation fuels, (ii) more efficient aircraft, (iii) hybrid and electric flight and (iv) airspace modernisation.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The focus of our policy development and analysis to date has been on ways to meet our 2050 net zero carbon commitment. We have not specifically made an assessment of the savings that could be made if the focus were the next five or ten years, but we continue to develop policies to reduce emissions over both the short term and the medium term.
The Transport Secretary recently announced the Jet Zero Council, which will provide leadership and strategic direction to cut aviation emissions. The Council will focus on developing UK capabilities to deliver zero emission flight.
Through the Aerospace Growth Partnership, Government and industry are committing a total of £3.9bn in funding for mid-stage aerospace research and development between 2013 and 2026.
DfT’s Future Fuels for Flight and Freight Competition makes £20 million of capital funding available for projects that will produce low carbon waste-based fuels for use in aircraft and heavy goods vehicles. This government funding will be matched by the private sector, and is expected to support construction of first-of-a-kind plants by 2021. The sustainable aviation fuel produced in these plants is expected to have emissions savings of at least 70% when compared to traditional jet fuel.
Asked by: Graham Brady (Conservative - Altrincham and Sale West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to support the commercialisation of sustainable aviation fuel in the UK.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
To help overcome barriers to the production of sustainable fuels for aviation on a commercial scale, the Department’s Future Fuels for Flight and Freight Competition (F4C) makes capital funding available. As part of the competition we are currently supporting two projects to build plants capable of supplying advanced fuels for use in aviation.
In addition, the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), a certificate trading scheme, promotes a market for low carbon fuels. Sustainable aviation fuels are eligible for support under the RTFO and are categorised as a development fuel, so potentially benefit from a higher tradeable certificate value.
On 12 June the Department announced the Jet Zero Council to create a partnership between industry and Government and bring together Ministers and CEO-level stakeholders to drive high ambition in the delivery of new technologies and innovative ways to cut aviation emissions. The Council will be jointly chaired by the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for BEIS.
Asked by: Baroness Worthington (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential to electrify short-haul flights and short-distance marine travel as part of a roadmap to reach net zero emissions; and to publish any such assessment.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is supporting the development of electric aircraft through £125 million of funding to the Future Flight Challenge. The Jet Zero Council, announced in June, will bring together DfT and BEIS Secretaries of State and CEO-level stakeholders to drive high ambition in the delivery of new technologies and innovative ways to cut aviation emissions.
The potential electrification of maritime routes and use of shore power alongside to reduce emissions was assessed as part of the Department’s work to develop the Clean Maritime Plan published in Summer 2019. The research supporting the plan, including detailed consideration of the use of electrical power, has been published on gov.uk.
Asked by: Lucy Powell (Labour (Co-op) - Manchester Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on the Jet zero objective announced in the Prime Minister's Economy speech of 30 June 2020; and what steps he is taking to achieve that objective.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
On 12 June the Transport Secretary announced the creation of the Jet Zero Council. We have been working with the Business Secretary on the aims and objectives of the Council. It is our intention to publish draft membership and terms of reference before summer recess.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2020 to Question 64070 on Jet Zero Council, whether he plans to publish the membership of the Jet Zero Council before the summer recess.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
It is our intention to publish draft membership and terms of reference of the Jet Zero Council before summer recess.
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of making Scottish short-haul flights electric; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
The UK Government supports the development of new aviation technology such as electric aircraft. We must continue to embrace the opportunities offered by technology, such as fully electric or hybrid planes, if we are to accelerate the transition to a greener future. Short-haul electric flights throughout the whole of the UK would help support our ambitious net zero emissions target.
The UK Government has announced the Jet Zero Council, which will bring together BEIS and DfT Secretaries of State, and CEO-level stakeholders across the UK to drive high ambition in the delivery of new technologies and innovative ways to cut aviation emissions.