Contents
SASIG 2014/15 Meeting Dates
Regional News
Industry News
European News
Parliamentary News
Government News
House of Commons Questions
Media News
SASIG 2014/15 Meeting Dates
6 March 2014
27 June 2014
24 October 2014
13 March 2015
Meetings are held at Local Government House, Smith Square, SW1P 3HZ, location map.
Regional News
15 Dec 2013 – The Welsh Government’s Permanent Secretary Derek Jones said that acquiring Cardiff Airport was the right thing to do.
17 Dec 2013 – The aerospace firm Cobham is transferring its flight inspection services from Durham Tees Valley Airport to Bournemouth Airport. The firm has not confirmed how many workers’ posts are at risk as a result, however Cobham says it remains committed to its headquarters in the north east of England, and will continue providing the Ministry of Defence with training in a £165m five-year deal from the region.
17 Dec 2013 – New runways at Heathrow and Gatwick airports are among the options that have been short-listed by the Airports Commission for expanding UK airport capacity. The three short-listed options include adding a third runway at Heathrow, lengthening an existing runway at Heathrow, and a new runway at Gatwick. The commission, Chaired by Sir Howard Davies, have also given Transport for London, the submitters of a new airport scheme in the Isle of Grain in north Kent, more time to show that their plan is feasible. A final report is due by summer 2015.
18 Dec 2013 – Twice weekly flights to New York and Dhaka will start from Birmingham Airport in spring 2014. The service will be operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Bangladesh’s national flag carrier and is possible due to Birmingham’s £40m runway extension which is soon to open.
19 Dec 2013 – A delayed decision on the expansion of Luton Airport is expected to be made at a meeting on Friday 20 December. The Development Control Committee has been recommended to approve the application to increase passenger capacity from 12 million to 18 million a year. The original meeting was deferred after Herts County Council requested a second legal opinion on Luton council’s suitability to make the decision, given its position.
19 Dec 2013 – Business Secretary Vince Cable has told BBC Radio 4’s Today some ‘more balance’ was needed in the UK economy across the entire country.
19 Dec 2013 – The Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin is to discuss improving transport routes to Leeds-Bradford Airport. Mr McLoughlin said that he would meet with local MPs to discuss possible improvements to the limited access routes to the airport.
19 Dec 2013 – Cornwall MP Stephen Gilbert is calling on the Government to guarantee funding to protect the Newquay to Gatwick air link.
Industry News
18 Dec 2013 – The Civil Aviation Authority have begun a survey to look at disabled people’s experience of air travel.
European News
18 Dec 2013 – The European Commission has announced a new policy package of measures aimed at ‘cleaning up Europe’s air’. The commission says in 2010, more than 400,000 people in the EU are estimated to have died prematurely due to air pollution. And it claims almost two-thirds of the EU land area was exposed to excess nutrient above safe levels. The Commission estimates the economic cost of the health impacts alone is between €330-940 billion (3-9 per cent of EU GDP). The clean air policy package updates existing legislation and further reduces harmful emissions from industry, traffic, energy, plants and agriculture, with a view to reducing their impact on human health and the environment.
Parliamentary News
17 Dec 2013 – The Transport Committee will hold a one-off evidence session with Sir Howard Davies on 20 January 2014 to answer questions about the Airports Commission’s interim report. Louise Ellman, Chair of the House of Commons’ Transport Committee said, ‘We welcome the publication of the Airports Commission’s interim report and the recognition it gives to the urgent need for additional runway capacity in the south east of England. We look forward to questioning Sir Howard Davies on his report and the substance of his proposals for further work between now and the publication of the Commission’s final report in 2015′.
17 Dec 2013 – The Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin gave a statement about the work of the Airports Commission and details of his written ministerial statement from this morning on Network Rail’s reclassification. Members of Parliament went on to debate the report and Transport Infrastructure more generally. A full transcript of the debate is available here.
Government News
17 Dec 2013 – The Airports Commission’s interim report published today (17 Dec 2013) has announced that it will be taking forward for further detailed study proposals for new runways at two locations:
Gatwick Airport
- Gatwick Airport Ltd’s proposal for a new runway to the south of the existing runway.
Heathrow Airport (two options)
- Heathrow Airport Ltd’s proposal for one new 3,500m runway to the northwest.
- Heathrow Hub’s proposal to extend the existing northern runway to at least 6,000m, enabling the extended runway to operate as two independent runways.
The Airports Commission’s independent review into airport capacity and connectivity in the UK has concluded that there is a need for one net additional runway to be in operation in the south east by 2030. Its analysis also indicates that there is likely to be a demand case for a second additional runway to be operational by 2050. The report is available here, along with its associated appendices. The Government have welcomed the report, stating that ‘it represents a significant step forward in the commission’s work in assessing options for meeting the UK’s international aviation needs, ahead of the publication of its final recommendations expected in 2015.
The next phase of its work will see the Commission undertaking a detailed appraisal of the three options identified before a public consultation in autumn next year.
19 Dec 2013 – The Department for Transport has published ‘Public service obligation: regional air access to London’ – UK government policy on protecting regional air services to London though public service obligations (PSO). The guidance aims to clarify how Government ordinarily expects to interpret public service obligation (PSO) criteria and how a devolved administration or local authority can access funding for supporting an airline to operate a service on the PSO route. EU member states may impose PSOs on air routes which are vital for the economic and social development of the region in order to maintain appropriate air services. The PSO fund is to be used for the protection of existing UK air services to London where there is a risk that regional connectivity may be lost.
House of Commons Questions
Marsden – Assessment of accuracy of DfT impact assessments in aviation reform
16 Dec 2013
Gordon Marsden, Shadow Further Education, Skills and Regional Growth Minister (Labour, Blackpool South): (1) what assessment he has made of the accuracy of his Department’s impact assessments in the field of aviation reform; (2) what assessment he has made of the (a) general accuracy of impact assessments prepared by his Department and submitted to Parliament prior to enactment of the Civil Aviation Act 2012 and (b) estimated annual costs in the form of new charges to be met by the aviation industry when responsibility for regulating aviation security transfers from his Department to the Civil Aviation Authority from 1 April 2014.
Robert Goodwill, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Conservative, Scarborough and Whitby): The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is presently consulting on the charges that, from 1 April next year and in line with the ‘user pays’ principle, it proposes to levy on those aviation entities subject to security regulation, when the authority assumes responsibility for aviation security regulatory and compliance monitoring activity. The initial impact assessment included a range of costs from £4.5 million to £6.6 million. However, after carrying out a full due diligence process on the costs involved, this resulted in a revised position of £7.9 million. As part of the CAA’s published response on 6 November to its first round of consultation on charging, full details were provided of an analysis of the differences between the cost information given prior to the passage of the Civil Aviation Act 2012, and the target cost base which now underpins the authority’s charging proposals. The CAA have further met with industry representatives to discuss not only the charges but the cost base on which the charges have been based, leading to an open and transparent dialogue.
de Bois – Total receipts from air passenger duty
16 Dec 2013
Nick de Bois (Conservative, Enfield North): What proportion of the total receipts from air passenger duty was attributable to (a) band C and (b) band D in (i) 2009, (ii) 2010, (iii) 2011, (iv) 2012 and (v) 2013 to date.
Nicky Morgan, Assistant Government Whip (Conservative, Loughborough): The published statistics on air passenger duty, including information on historic revenues from the duty and passenger numbers by band, are available at: https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/TaxAndDutyBulletins.aspx
McDonnell – Expansion at Heathrow Airport
18 Dec 2013
John McDonnell (Labour, Hayes and Harlington): At the last election, many of my constituents truly believed the Prime Minister when he said ’no ifs, no buts, no third runway’ at Heathrow. They are now faced with the threat of a third runway and a fourth runway, with thousands losing their homes and schools being demolished. There is even the threat that we will have to dig up our dead from the local cemetery. Does he appreciate that many have lost all faith in him as a man who keeps his word?
David Cameron, Prime Minister (Conservative, Witney):The hon. Gentleman has a very strong view about this matter, but I simply do not accept what he says. We said that there would not be a third runway. We have stuck with that promise. We now have a report that is being done by Howard Davies, which has all-party support. The interim report is very good.
John McDonnell: You have lied to my constituents.
David Cameron: I think that people should read that report before they start shouting across the House of Commons in a completely inappropriate way. [Hon. Members: ‘Order.’]
Mr Speaker: Order. I know what I am doing. I do not need any help from Back Benchers. A reference was made to the treatment of constituents, not to observations that have been made in respect of Members of the House. I am clear on that and the procedure is extremely clear as well.
Cunningham – Potential benefits of expansion at Birmingham Airport
19 Dec 2013
Jim Cunningham (Labour, Coventry South): What recent assessment he has made of the potential benefits of Birmingham airport expanding to become a hub airport.
Robert Goodwill: The Government have always made it clear that airports such as Birmingham, which are international airports in their own right, make a vital contribution to regional and local economic growth and connectivity. Forecasts indicate capacity for significant further growth at the airport, including more point-to-point destinations.
Jim Cunningham: I thank the Minister for that answer, because I agree with him. Could he see his way clear to supporting any expansion at Birmingham airport, particularly as a hub is, as he said, vital to the west midlands economy? Perhaps he could meet a small delegation to discuss how he can help.
Robert Goodwill: Birmingham airport is forecast to carry 9 million passengers this year, and that could further increase given the proposal to extend the runway. It is set to become a hub in its own right, not fed by feeder flights but by our wonderful new north-south railway, which will provide connections by high-speed rail to the major cities of our country.
Fitzpatrick – Renaming Birmingham Airport railway station
19 Dec 2013
Jim Fitzpatrick, Shadow Aviation, Shipping and London Issues Minister (Labour, Poplar and Limehouse): Does the Minister agree that in order to promote Birmingham airport it would be a good idea to rename the railway station right next to it Birmingham airport station?
Robert Goodwill: I suspect that people will start to call it that anyway, so it seems an eminently sensible idea.
19 Dec 2013
Michael Fabricant, Vice-Chairman for Parliamentary Campaigning (Conservative, Lichfield): Does my hon. Friend agree with Andy Street, chairman of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull local enterprise partnership, that the expansion of airports in the south-east will in no way damage the expansion and financial prospects of Birmingham airport and that the two can work together?
Robert Goodwill: I thank my hon. Friend, who—dare I suggest?—is never knowingly undersold. I agree that we need expansion and growth in airports around the country, including our regional airports, which I like to refer to as local international airports.
Raynsford – Airports Commission costing of Heathrow Airport proposal
19 Dec 2013
Nick Raynsford (Labour, Greenwich and Woolwich): As we are on the subject of Christmas largesse, could the Secretary of State explain why the Airports Commission, as part of its costing for extra capacity at Heathrow, gave the airport an extraordinary present by excluding the cost both of the rail link to HS2 and of motorway enhancement around Heathrow but included such surface access costs in its assessment of the alternative in the Thames Gateway?
Patrick McLoughlin, Transport Secretary (Conservative, Derbyshire Dales): I am not responsible for the Airports Commission report—it is an independent report—but I will certainly draw the right hon. Gentleman’s comments to the attention of Sir Howard Davies so that he can consider whether his report properly reflects all the arguments.
Lumley – Renaming Birmingham Airport railway station
19 Dec 2013
Karen Lumley (Conservative, Redditch): Happy Christmas, Mr Speaker. May I support the earlier call for Birmingham International station to be renamed Birmingham Airport, but will the Secretary of State work with me to ensure that that happens now, even before HS2 is built?
Robert Goodwill: I repeat that that is an eminently sensible suggestion. I certainly would not advocate naming the station after either a footballer or a politician, although Lumley Junction has a certain ring about it, does it not?
Pincher – Infrastructure projects close to Birmingham Airport
19 Dec 2013
Christopher Pincher (Conservative, Tamworth): The Secretary of State made it clear yesterday that he hopes that Birmingham airport can expand. Currently, the 15-mile journey between Tamworth and the airport takes 45 minutes by rail. Does he therefore agree that infrastructure projects such as the Whitacre rail link, which would reduce the journey time to 18 minutes, could be beneficial to my constituents and the airport?
Stephen Hammond, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Conservative, Wimbledon): My hon. Friend is right that good service access is essential for airports. He is right to point out that the Secretary of State said on Tuesday that we regard Birmingham and Manchester not as regional airports but as important national airports in their own right. I am happy to look at the Whitacre link proposals. I encourage my hon. Friend to continue to discuss the development of the business case with the local enterprise partnership and Centro, so that it can be brought forward.
Gilbert – Public service obligation on the Newquay to Gatwick air route
19 Dec 2013
Stephen Gilbert, Parliamentary Private Secretary to Energy Secretary Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat, St Austell and Newquay): The proposed public service obligation on the economically vital Newquay to London Gatwick route will run for four years, but funding might be in place for only two years. What assurance can the Minister give that funding will be in place for the duration of the public service obligation on that route?
Robert Goodwill: I suspect that the hon. Gentleman should have directed that question to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, who made an announcement on that matter recently. As Newquay is more than three hours from London and has a current operator, it is a potential applicant that would almost certainly be seen in a positive light.
Media News
16 Dec 2013 – In a new report, ‘De-politicising Airport Expansion’, Kristian Niemietz of the Institute of Economic Affairs develops proposals for how to move the airport capacity debate out of the government’s hands. The paper proposes the abolition of either Air Passenger Duty or the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, and calls for the creation of compensation incentives and a broad decentralisation of the tax system. The report argues that the privatisation of airlines and airports has been a free-market success, yet asserts that the debate about capacity remains political. This paper identifies itself as a ‘routemap showing how politics can be taken out of the equation, in favour of fiscal decentralisation, local autonomy and direct democracy’.
18 Dec 2013 – A BBC News report into how the Airports Commission Interim Report has divided opinion, and speaking to BBC Breakfast, Sir Howard Davies explains the pros and cons of the options the Commission shortlisted.
18 Dec 2013 – Campaign for Better Transport, Cubic Transportation Systems, Telefónica and Thales have formed a Smarter Travel Forum to explore how the transport sector can work together to promote the use of emerging smart technology, such as real time information, smartcards and data collection. The group will focus on how technology can deliver safe, sustainable and reliable transport solutions, supporting Government in the delivery of capacity enhancements on some of the country’s most congested sections of the rail and road networks. Technology has the potential to transform the transport sector by providing door-to-door solutions, making better use of the infrastructure we already have and ensuring any new infrastructure is part of a smart travel vision. The group launched a Smarter Travel Manifesto at the London Transport Museum attended by Baroness Susan Kramer, Minister of State for Transport, and Mary Creagh MP, Shadow Environment Secretary, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport. The Manifesto sets out the benefits of smart technology for passengers, policy-makers and operators. The Manifesto suggests a number of ways the Government can encourage and promote smarter travel:
- Invest in smart technology like Network Rail’s Traffic Management System, the Highways Agency National Traffic Information Service and Network Rail’s Intelligent Infrastructure Management System.
- Use the regulatory systems it controls, such as the licensing of local bus services, the Highways Agency’s performance specifications and rail franchises, and give incentives for adopting smart technology.
SASIG ParliamentaryNews Bulletin 15 Dec – 20 Dec
SASIG Regional&IndustryNews Bulletin 15 Dec – 20 Dec
The Parliamentary information in this Bulletin is sourced from De Havilland Information Services plc.