Contributions
1,819 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Thomas CookMy hon. Friend is absolutely right: there are very profitable parts of this sector. One large British airline has just made record profits, which shows that there is money to be…25 Sept 2019HANSARD Thomas CookThis has been the most interesting part of this afternoon. As has been discussed, we have an airline insolvency review that has now reported, and there seems to be a very strong…25 Sept 2019HANSARD Thomas CookI will ask my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, who is part of the cross-departmental taskforce, to make sure that that…25 Sept 2019HANSARD Thomas CookThe big difference with the airlines that are surviving or even sub-surviving within this group is their profitability. I think we have gone round this quite a few times. I am in…25 Sept 2019HANSARD Thomas CookA large number of people have bought holidays that are yet to start. If they were package holidays, they are ATOL-protected and people will simply get their money back. Those who…25 Sept 2019HANSARD Thomas CookI am very sorry to hear about his constituent’s situation. No airlines should be trying to profit out of this situation. As I have mentioned, the UK airlines in particular have…25 Sept 2019HANSARD Thomas CookYes, absolutely.25 Sept 2019HANSARD Thomas CookMy hon. Friend makes a very good point. We do get back to this fundamental point that I know is causing some concern on the Opposition Benches, which is that the underlying…25 Sept 2019HANSARD Thomas CookThe hon. Lady confuses two points. It is absolutely true, as I have said many times, that we need a new administration regime, but the fundamental difference that she refers to in…25 Sept 2019HANSARD Thomas CookI must pay tribute to the extraordinary work that has been done in the foreign missions around the world. We are very grateful to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff,…25 Sept 2019HANSARD Thomas CookThere were some early examples of what looked like incredible surge pricing, and that is very unwelcome. We contacted the airlines through the CAA. Most of them have overridden…25 Sept 2019HANSARD Thomas CookBroadly speaking, we know that the previous Monarch operation was £50 million, and this issue is probably about twice the size, so that indicates a cost of some £100 million.25 Sept 2019HANSARD Thomas CookI certainly will. The hon. Gentleman’s question has helped to highlight the issue, and I will do my best to do the same.25 Sept 2019HANSARD Thomas CookI know the hon. Gentleman has heard this answer before, but Governments are not about running travel companies, obviously. If there was any way in which we thought a short-term…25 Sept 2019HANSARD Thomas CookYes. The problem was that it was never apparent that there was a package to sit behind that that somebody putting money in would support—in other words, that it was not…25 Sept 2019HANSARD Thomas CookYes, I absolutely can. In fact, early indications are that the first payments will start flowing this Friday the 27th.25 Sept 2019HANSARD Thomas CookWe have this slightly strange situation where everyone is acknowledging how badly they think the company may have been run and expressing concern about the decisions that have…25 Sept 2019HANSARD Thomas CookI know that the hon. Gentleman has considerable expertise in these areas. The answer to his question is that £420 million is the projected cost of future bookings through the ATOL…25 Sept 2019HANSARD Thomas CookYes, I will.25 Sept 2019HANSARD Thomas CookIt absolutely has occurred to us. There are 630 jobcentres and the Rapid Response Service, alongside the National Careers Service. They are already working with local partners in…25 Sept 2019