Extract from SNP led
debate on Covid-19: Future UK-EU Relationship
(Paisley and Renfrewshire
North) (SNP):...As I have said a few times in this place in the
past few weeks, my constituency is facing the biggest challenge to
our economy for decades.
Rolls-Royce Glasgow airport,
easyJet, British Airways, Menzies Aviation and Swissport—I could go
on to list company after company, and sector after sector—are in
the process of collectively laying off thousands of my
constituents. I have asked time after time what the UK Government
plan to do to support constituencies such as mine, which are
staring economic disaster in the face, but there has
been no answer and no sign of a plan. But EU countries do have
plans and they are implementing them now. They want to save jobs
and key industries, and they have their levers and powers to do
that. The Danish Government do not have to send missives to the
Germans asking permission to have an industrial or macroeconomic
policy. The French Government are implementing their plan for
aviation now, yet there is no plan in the UK—none. Aerospace and
aviation are left to rot; there is no sectoral support and no sign
of any...
To read the whole debate, CLICK HERE
Observations by the
Government on a petition regarding the Protection of workers in the
airline industry
The Petition of the residents of the constituency of Paisley and
Renfrewshire North,
Declares that many workers in the airline industry are currently
under threat of being dismissed from their posts and then being
rehired on lesser terms and conditions and salary; notes that
most other European countries have legislation in place to
prevent such mistreatment and to protect workers from management
abuse and threats, benefitting both employees and the wider
economy; notes the volume of correspondence being received by
Members’ offices regarding reports of this practice at British
Airways; and notes that the Employment (Dismissal and
Re-Employment) Bill, which aims to protect workers from
management abuse, has already been presented in the House.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge
the Government to bring forward legislation to prevent firing and
re-hiring practices and protect workers from management abuse.
And the petitioners remain etc.—[Presented by , Official Report, 16 June
2020; Vol. 677, c. 773 .]
[P002578]
Observations from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for
Transport ():
The Government recognise the challenging times facing the
aviation sector as a result of covid-19. Aviation plays a
critical role in our future as a global trading nation and for
local economies such as that in the constituency of Paisley and
Renfrewshire North. Additionally, we recognise that this will be
a very distressing time for employees of British Airways,
Rolls-Royce and across the aviation and
aerospace industry, as well as for their families and for local
communities that are supported by the industry.
The aviation sector is able to draw upon the unprecedented
package of measures announced by the Chancellor, including a Bank
of England scheme for firms to raise capital, Time to pay
flexibilities with tax bills, financial support for employees and
VAT deferrals. These measures have been designed to ensure that
companies of any size receive the help they need to get through
this difficult time airports, airlines and the wider supply
chain.
Our absolute focus in Government has been combating coronavirus,
with a view to the safe return to aviation, when the science
allows. We have kept an open dialogue with the aviation and
aerospace sectors with regular structured engagement from the
start of the pandemic with unions and industry bodies such as
ADS, AOA and Airlines UK as well as with individual airlines,
airports, ground handlers and manufactures. I am also acutely
aware of the impact on the aviation workforce and I can assure
you that we are actively working with unions and industry to make
sure we identify opportunities to retain key skills within the
industry, or ensure they are able to find new employment or
retrain and upskill as necessary.
More recently, the Department for Transport has established a
restart and recovery unit to work directly with the sector,
focusing on the immediate practicalities of restarting the sector
and to set a clear vision and objectives looking forward to the
longer-term recovery phase. This work has already started in
earnest with the international aviation taskforce’s industry
expert steering group, a collaborative working group with
representation from across industry and Government, including the
devolved Administrations. Through this group we have recently
developed safer travel guidance for operators and passengers,
published on the 11 June 2020. This group will also consider how
the industry can restart flying and ensure that it can grow
sustainably in the future.
