Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Aviation Industry

Thursday 11 March 2021 · 5 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 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government have given the aviation sector approximately 7 billion of support during the pandemic.
  • The Treasury handled changes to the taxation regime at the end of the transition period.
  • Government stand behind aviation recovery through the global travel taskforce and consultation on air passenger duty.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Transport
Context

Questioner mentions that the aviation sector was worst affected by the pandemic but did not receive sufficient support according to ONS data.

Question

Does the Minister agree that the support already provided to airports will not be enough, given they are losing many times that amount each month? Is he missing a trick both to help the sector survive and modernise?

Answer from Robert Courts

The Government have given the aviation sector approximately £7 billion of support over the course of the pandemic. The Budget extended both the furlough scheme and the airport and ground operations support scheme for another six months. The global travel taskforce will report in April.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not provide specific measures beyond current schemes and future reports.

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Q2 Amy Callaghan
Taxation Standards & Ethics
Context

Questioner inquires about the lack of consultation on arrival duty-free shopping and its impact on jobs.

Question

Can the Minister tell if he lobbied the Chancellor before ending VAT-free shopping schemes? If so, will he continue to push for establishment of arrival duty free outlets?

Answer from Robert Courts

The hon. Member will understand that there had to be a change on the taxation regime at the end of the transition period, with all matters handled by the Treasury under review by the Chancellor.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not confirm lobbying efforts or commitment to duty-free outlets.

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Q3 Virendra Sharma Lab
Climate Business & Trade
Context

Questioner asks for a commitment on greening the aviation sector to support future zero emission aircraft.

Question

Will the Minister commit to working with BEIS to increase the Aerospace Technology Institute budget for developing new technologies?

Answer from Robert Courts

Aviation must play its part in net zero challenge. Work is ongoing through Jet Zero Council and working groups on airframe types, sustainable aviation fuel, among others.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not commit to increasing ATI budget specifically.

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Q4 Gavin Newlands SNP
Business & Trade
Context

Questioner criticises government's lack of delivery on promised support and mentions issues like ending VAT-free shopping.

Question

This Government have utterly failed aviation and its 1 million workers, have they not?

Answer from Robert Courts

The Government stand behind aviation with £7 billion of support. Through global travel taskforce expanding horizons further and consultation on air passenger duty announced, recovery is being worked towards.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not address failure directly but provides context.

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Q5 Mike Kane Lab Wythenshawe and Sale East
Immigration
Context

Questioner questions the Minister's rhetoric versus delivery on global travel taskforce.

Question

What assurances are there that the workstreams of the global travel taskforce will be robustly implemented?

Answer from Robert Courts

The first global travel taskforce reported in November, with the test to release scheme launched in December. Reports are due on 12 April, with international travel resumption discussed for May, involving weekly consultations with the sector.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not provide specific assurances beyond progress reports and future meetings.

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