Contributions
584 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Aircraft Noise: Local CommunitiesI will come to that, and I look forward to meeting the hon. Member, because I would like to have a safe cycle ride around Richmond Park one of these days. I will be raising that…14 Nov 2024HANSARD Flight CancellationsPublic transport penetration within an hour of an airport is vital and is a key performance indicator for how airports can grow and serve people better. Better rail, better bus,…05 Nov 2024HANSARD Flight CancellationsI know that the issue of connectivity across the UK is of great interest to the hon. Gentleman and many of his constituents, as connectivity strengthens the bond between our…05 Nov 2024HANSARD Flight CancellationsI thank the hon. Gentleman for an opportunity to talk about these important issues. It is unusual that we are doing so in an urgent question, not in an Adjournment debate, which…05 Nov 2024HANSARD Flight CancellationsI thank the Chair of the Transport Committee for the excellent work that she does in this field. Cancellations are bad for business, tourism and passengers. The public service…05 Nov 2024HANSARD Flight CancellationsBusiness and tourism are vital for growth, as the hon. Gentleman said. We did have some connectivity problems and cancellations due to Storm Ashley recently, and I am sorry to…05 Nov 2024HANSARD Flight CancellationsPeople should not be missing hospital appointments because of cancelled planes in the aviation sector. Yes, I agree with the right hon. Member: it is a considered question, and…05 Nov 2024HANSARD Flight CancellationsI thank the hon. Member for standing up for her local airport in Aberdeen. As someone who recently caught a connecting flight in Manchester from Newquay, going on to Aberdeen, I…05 Nov 2024HANSARD Flight CancellationsOfficials engage regularly with their counterparts across Europe and the European Union. The Government have committed to airspace modernisation, which will improve resilience. I…05 Nov 2024HANSARD Flight CancellationsI remind the hon. Member that as a tax, air passenger duty is a matter for His Majesty’s Treasury. In the Budget we announced APD rates from 2026 to 2027, to account for the…05 Nov 2024HANSARD Flight CancellationsThat is a good question, but I would do that automatically, and I extend that to the other parts of our great nation where the public service obligation applies. Let us not forget…05 Nov 2024HANSARD Flight CancellationsI thank the hon. Member for his question. I recently met the chief executive of British Airways and raised regional connectivity.05 Nov 2024HANSARD Flight CancellationsWe were struggling to get the question landed; we have been taxiing for a bit, and now we are ready for take-off. I do not want to pick on particular airlines, but I am discussing…05 Nov 2024HANSARD Flight CancellationsI thank the hon. Gentleman for all he does in this space. I join him in encouraging the shadow Secretary of State to go to Northern Ireland, which is a fine country. The hon.…05 Nov 2024HANSARD Flight CancellationsThe hon. and learned Member states that case, but there is a very open market in connectivity, with a number of airlines flying from Northern Ireland, and Belfast in particular,…05 Nov 2024HANSARD Flight CancellationsIt is great that the Northern Ireland Executive are up and running. In the devolution settlement they will be getting more money, and it is a matter for them how they spend it. On…05 Nov 2024HANSARD Flight CancellationsI say with all candour to the hon. Gentleman that I remember that during covid—I shadowed this brief at the time—there was no specific package for airlines, airports or airport…05 Nov 2024HANSARD Flight CancellationsI refer the hon. Member to my previous answer: I have already raised regional connectivity with BA and other airlines. Odhran Dunne, chief executive officer of Visit Derry, has…05 Nov 2024HANSARDCivil Aviation Authority Annual Progress ReportThe airspace modernisation strategy refresh, published on 23 January 2023, sets out, through nine elements, the ways and means of modernising airspace, focusing on the period…31 Oct 2024HANSARDDraft Merchant Shipping (General Lighthouse Authorities) (Increase of Borrowing Limit) Order 2024I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Merchant Shipping (General Lighthouse Authorities) (Increase of Borrowing Limit) Order 2024. It is a pleasure to serve…30 Oct 2024