Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Aviation Sector Employment: Covid-19

Thursday 3 December 2020 · 6 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government's comprehensive support package includes the coronavirus job retention scheme, which will now run until the end of March 2021.
  • The Government are working to ensure as many jobs as possible are protected in the aerospace sector by increasing demand and safely getting people flying again.
  • The global travel taskforce has met extensively, engaging in workshops with the industry and releasing a detailed report to support the aviation sector.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Christine Jardine Lib Dem Edinburgh West
Employment
Context

Discussions regarding employment protections needed due to job losses and uncertainty in the aviation sector amid the pandemic.

Question

What discussions has he had with Cabinet colleagues on employment protections for people working in the aviation industry during the COVID-19 outbreak?

Answer from Robert Courts

The Government's comprehensive support package includes the coronavirus job retention scheme, which will now run until the end of March 2021.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify any specific employment protections or discuss discussions with Cabinet colleagues about this topic.

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Q2 Sharon Hodgson Lab Washington and Gateshead South
Employment Business & Trade
Context

Concerns raised about job losses, especially at Rolls-Royce, despite government financial support. The situation calls for ensuring that such support translates into job protection.

Question

Many constituents rely on jobs related to the aviation sector, and while welcome, there are concerns regarding conditionality of financial support, particularly among workers at Rolls-Royce. Will he work to ensure that any financial support is translated into job protection here in the UK?

Answer from Robert Courts

The Government are acutely aware of the importance of highly skilled, dedicated employees in aerospace and are very much working to ensure as many jobs as possible can be protected. This includes looking to see that demand increases and we get people flying as soon as is safely possible.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific actions or commitments related to ensuring job protection through financial support conditionality.

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Q3 Emma Lewell Lab South Shields
Employment Business & Trade
Context

High concern over job losses and layoffs due to the collapse of the aviation industry's supply chain. Criticism for slow government response, such as the delay in launching a taskforce.

Question

This year, I have watched close friends and constituents lose their jobs as the aviation industry has collapsed; yet it took until October for the Government to launch a taskforce. There is no sector-specific support deal, and silence from the Secretary of State during BA's fire-and-rehire tactics and Heathrow's current actions. When will the Government start taking real stand to save people's jobs?

Answer from Robert Courts

In announcing the global travel taskforce, which went live on 15 December, the Government have acted extremely fast in ensuring a world-leading test and release system is introduced to support the aviation industry going forward.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address job-saving measures or direct commitments related to protecting jobs; instead focused on speed of taskforce announcement.

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Q4 Florence Eshalomi Labour (Co-op) Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Employment
Context

Disgraceful actions by British Airways, including firing and rehiring staff on reduced wages. Questioning why the Government has not stepped in with a sector-specific deal.

Question

British Airways is a major employer in my constituency; yet its actions during this pandemic have been utterly disgraceful, including fire-and-rehire tactics. Why haven't the Government stepped in to do a sectoral deal and protect these jobs? What steps are being taken to ensure no more job losses?

Answer from Robert Courts

I pay tribute to dedicated employees in the hon. Lady's constituency who work in the airline industry, but any redundancy is a commercial decision that we regret. I encourage employers to engage sensitively with their employees and unions to come to compromises wherever possible.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address steps being taken to prevent further job losses or provide specific protections for aviation workers beyond encouraging dialogue.

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Q5 Christine Jardine Lib Dem Edinburgh West
Employment
Context

Concerns over employment practices in the aviation sector, including fire-and-rehire tactics that have been criticized.

Question

The aviation sector is a major employer in my constituency. In a recent debate, the Minister said absence of strict regulations about fire and rehire provides necessary flexibility. What are the Government proposing to bring forward to protect workers from the possibility of fire and rehire?

Answer from Robert Courts

These matters are profoundly regretted by the Government, but remain commercial decisions. We engage closely with sector representatives including unions to find a way forward if possible.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not propose specific measures or regulations for protecting workers from fire-and-rehire practices; focused on engagement efforts.

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Q6 Mike Kane Lab Wythenshawe and Sale East
Context

50 years since the introduction of legislation protecting disabled individuals; concerns about lack of meetings by the global travel taskforce and recommendations from the aviation industry.

Question

It is 50 years since my predecessor introduced the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act. The Minister mentioned it on World Disability Day, but the global travel taskforce has hardly met and nobody in the aviation industry recommended the test-to-release scheme announced recently. Will he commit to setting a critical path so we can restore confidence in our world-class aviation industry?

Answer from Robert Courts

The global travel taskforce has indeed met extensively, engaging in workshops with the industry and releasing a detailed report. This work continues as urged by the hon. Gentleman.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to setting a critical path or address specific steps for restoring confidence; focused on affirming taskforce activity.

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