SASIG 2012/13 Meeting Dates
Thursday 14 June 2012 The Aviation Minister, Theresa Villiers, shall be attending.
Friday 9 November 2012
Friday 1 March 2013.
3 – 9 March Parliamentary and Government News
Westminster Debates and Legislation
Public Bill Committee – Civil Aviation Bill (Day Five)
The Bill to confer functions on the Civil Aviation Authority under competition legislation in relation to services provided at airports, and make provision about aviation security was debated in the Commons in Committee stage.
Public Bill Committee – Civil Aviation Bill (Day Six)
House of Commons Questions
Use of sustainable biofuels for reducing transport CO2 emissions – Goldsmith, Z – 5 March 2012
Anticipated carbon emissions until 2050 – Eagle, M – 5 March 2012
Forecasts up to 2050 for passenger and air traffic movements – Eagle, M – 5 March 2012
Discussions on the takeover of BMI – Lady Hermon – 5 March 2012
Plans to devolve air passenger duty to Northern Ireland – Ritchie, M – 5 March 2012
Plans to devolve air passenger duty to Wales – Edwards, J – 5 March 2012
Variations of air passenger duty in areas of high unemployment – Goggins, P – 6 March 2012
Effect of air passenger duty on the economy – Goggins, P – 6 March 2012
House of Lords Questions
Air passenger duty reimbursement – Lord Bradshaw – 7 March 2012
Definition of air passenger duty – Lord Bradshaw – 8 March 2012
Press Releases
Reports that Government is to make no significant changes to its draft planning reforms
Roberta Blackman-Woods MP (Lab; City of Durham), Shadow Planning Minister, commenting on reports that there will be no significant changes to the Draft National Planning Policy Framework, said:
“Reports that the Government is to make no significant changes to its draft planning reforms are extremely worrying. In the past, the minister has chosen to describe the voices of organisations like the National Trust, RSPB and the Campaign to Protect Rural England as variously “nihilistic”, “left-wing” and “semi-hysterical”.
“If there really is no significant change in the document and this Tory-led Government continues to ignore the millions of members in these organisations,such an out of touch and complacent approach will raise serious concerns amongst all those who love our countryside.”
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10 – 16 March Parliamentary and Government News
Government News
Former Conservative environment minister Tim Yeo claims the coalition has the “wrong policy” over London airports
Tim Yeo, the former Conservative environment minister is calling on the government to drop its opposition to a third runway at Heathrow Airport. The coalition scrapped Labour’s plans for a third runway at Heathrow and also ruled out any additional runways at Gatwick and Stansted when it came to power.
London mayoral candidates clash over transport
In the first debate with the four main candidates for mayor elections in May, the debate discussed issues relating to transport in London with Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick urging “smarter” use of Heathrow to increase capacity, and proposed cutting the number of short haul flights from Heathrow and replacing them with more to emerging long haul destinations. London Mayor, Boris Johnson made no reference to proposals for the Thames estuary airport at the event.
Westminster Debates and Legislation
Public Bill Committee – Civil Aviation Bill (Day Six)
Public Bill Committee – Civil Aviation Bill (Day Seven)
Lords Second Reading – Airports (Amendment) Bill
The Lords debated that the Airports (Amendment) Bill would be incompatible with EU law.
House of Commons Questions
Effects United States and China exclusion of the emission trading scheme – Main, A – 13 March 2012
Thames estuary airport discussions – Reckless, M – 14 March 2012
Longhaul routes from Scotland – MacNeil, A – 14 March 2012
Environmental effects of a Thames estuary airport – Reckless, M – 15 March 2012
Departmental meetings on the Thames Estuary airport – Reckless, M – 15 March 2012
Environment concerns for sustainable framework for UK aviation – Reckless, M – 15 March 2012
Press Releases
Labour – Require airline tickets to show lower carbon emission journeys
Labour will attempt to amend the Civil Aviation Bill to require airlines to print on tickets, for domestic flights and those to European destinations, not just the emissions but also the equivalent lower emissions if they had travelled by rail.
Labour – Willie Walsh has highlighted Government’s lack of a plan for growth
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17 – 23 March Parliamentary and Government News
Government News
David Cameron sets out transport network plans
Prime Minister David Cameron has set out plans to boost Britain’s airport capacity and attract private money into the roads. He promised to take on “vested interests” to force through improvements to the transport network and said he wanted to look “urgently” at private-sector options – which could involve tolls for new roads.
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne delivers the Budget Statement
The SASIG Office has produced a report on the budget statement that can be found on the link here.
Business minister appeals for owners to invest in Cardiff Airport
Welsh Assembly Business Minister Edwina Hart has told the National Assembly’s Enterprise and Business Committee that the Welsh Government could assist the airport, but said she had little confidence in its current Spanish owners.
Westminster Debates and Legislation
Airport policy in the European Union
The European Scrutiny Committee recommended the debate on airport policy in the European Union (EU) because of the 2011 White Paper, in which the EU Commission identified the need to make more efficient use of airport capacity, optimise the provision of ground-handling services and address the anticipated increase in demand for air services. Against that background, the Commission presented a paper on its better airports package, which includes an overarching communication—document A—and three draft regulations that are intended to help boost capacity, reduce delays and promote quality in the EU’s airports.
Westminster Committees
Lords EU Sub-Committee B – Airport slot allocation
The Committee heard from: Simon McNamara, Deputy Director General, European Regions Airline Association; David Smith, Schedule Planning Manager, British Airways; and Richard Matthews, Head of Scheduling, Easyjet
During a meeting of Lords EU Sub-Committee B on Airport slot allocation, Peers were told that adopting the proposal from the European Commission on slot allocation would be a retrograde step and potentially cause global confusion on slot allocation policy. Existing regulations needed to be applied consistently across Europe before the Commission considering the implementation of new proposals.
Lords EU Sub-Committee B – Airport slot allocation
The Committee heard from: Rob Siddall, Policy Director, Airport Operators Association; Emma Gilthorpe, Economics and Regulation Director, BAA Ltd; Daniel Edwards, Head of Economic Policy and International Aviation, Civil Aviation Authority; and James Cole, Director of Airport Coordination Limited International (ACL). The Committee heard that increasing the transparency of the slot allocation procedure would ultimately result in an improved passenger experience.
House of Commons Questions
Varying rates of air passenger duty in England – Smith, H – 19 March 2012
Air routes between London, Scotland and China – MacNeil, A – 20 March 2012
Changing levels of air passenger duty in Northern Ireland – Long, N – 21 March 2012
Press Releases
Dame Anne Begg MP attacks increase in air passenger duty
The Aberdeen South MP condemned Chancellor George Osborne’s decision to increase air passenger duty despite calls from Scotland’s airports to rethink the planned hike and give them the chance to compete against European rivals.
A Fair Tax on Flying campaign – Budget Response – Air Passenger Duty
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24 – 30 March Parliamentary and Government News
Government News
Colin Keir, Member of the Scottish Parliament calls for end to Heathrow monopoly
The Edinburgh Western SNP member has called for British Airways to allow a new competitor to fly between Edinburgh and Heathrow to avoid a monopoly on the route in anticipation of its takeover of BMI.
Department for Environment and Climate Change publishes the Annual Statement of Emissions for 2010
Douglas Oakervee appointed as new chair of HS2 Ltd
Douglas Oakervee has been appointed to HS2 Ltd, the independent company set up by the Government to deliver a high speed rail network between London and the North of England. He will commence working with the HS2 Ltd team in April 2012.
Boris Johnson vows to block third runway at Heathrow
London Mayor Boris Johnson has insisted he will not allow a third runway to be built at Heathrow airport, amid reports the idea could be back on the table. The government has previously ruled out a third runway, but reports suggest Chancellor George Osborne is pushing for the idea to be reconsidered.
National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and technical guidance published
The NPPF was published on 27 March 2012 by the Department for Communities & Local Government and is available at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/nppf
Technical guidance has also been published relating to development in areas at risk of flooding, and in relation to mineral extraction: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/nppftechnicalguidance
House of Commons Statements
Minister of State for Transport, Theresa Villiers makes a statement on night flying restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Airports
“The current restrictions on night flying at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Airports were set in 2006 and are due to expire in October 2012.
“The Government’s forthcoming Aviation Policy Framework will set out key parameters for aviation, including on noise annoyance to local communities. To ensure our proposals to replace the current night flying regime can take account of the Aviation Policy Framework which the Government has committed to have in place by next spring, and will include the framework for managing noise, we will extend the existing night flying regime at these airports for a period of two years until October 2014. As a first step to replace the current regime in 2014, we will launch a first stage consultation later this year which will seek detailed evidence of the effectiveness of the current regime including costs and benefits and airlines’ fleet replacement plans. This will be followed by a second consultation next year which will enable us to take account of adopted policy when developing our specific proposals.
“The Government will take into account the freeze in quota limits during this extension period when setting the next regime and expects airlines to continue to improve their environmental performance in the interim.”
Secretary of State for Transport Justine Greening makes statement on High Speed Rail
House of Lords Questions
Environmental impact of stacking at UK airports – Knight, G – 26 March 2012
Helioslough applications for development of former Radlett aerodrome – Clappison, J – 26 March 2012
Airport in the Thames Estuary and it’s effect on wildlife – Reckless, M – 26 March 2012
Airport congestion during the Olympic Games 2012 – Knight, G – 27 March 2012
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January 2011-12 CAA Airport Traffic Stats (Reported in March 2012)