, Labour's Shadow Transport
Secretary,responding to the travel traffic light system
legal action, said:
"Labour has repeatedly called for ministers to publish the data
and criteria around their traffic light system - yet they refuse
to do so.
"When will they deliver on the sector-specific support promised
for aviation 15 months ago? It's now clearer than ever that this
Government is actively choosing to turn its back on the industry
at a time when thousands of jobs are on the line."
Ends
Notes to editors:
Labour wrote to Transport Secretary earlier this month to urge greater support for the
aviation industry.
The full text of the letter:
Dear Grant,
I am again writing to you regarding the future of the aviation
industry in light of Portugal's removal from the green list and
the clear need for significant travel restrictions to remain in
place for some time. Everyone is keen to see international travel
return as soon as possible, but safety must come first. Which is
why a strategic approach and clarity from government is so
vital.
The current chaotic system this government has overseen has
resulted in mass confusion over the 'amber list', with ministers
giving wildly conflicting advice.
This has been gravely damaging for consumer and business
confidence. While for consumers, most holiday insurance no longer
fully covering trips which could be cancelled due to Covid and
family budgets being squeezed more tightly than ever.
We can't continue to see a repeat of this lack of strategy
resulting in travellers being forced to change their plans at
moment's notice.
Can I urge you not just publish the criteria surrounding how
you'll make decisions but also the analysis of the data you
measured that criteria against?
Also the UK government must, without further delay, scrap the
amber list and provide clarity to the system rather than the
dangerous mixed messages over 'essential travel'.
It has long been clear that the necessary restrictions to
international travel would have a severe impact on the tourism
and transport sector. As you, have said, "the aviation sector is
suffering extraordinarily tough times."
I have written the following in many letters to you before, but
as you'll know the Covid-19 crisis has already had a devastating
impact on the whole aviation industry, which contributes £22
billion and 267,000 direct jobs and a further 1.5 million
employed through the supply chain.
The UK is home to the largest aviation sector in Europe and the
third largest in the world. You will have seen that a number of
airlines and airport operators have announced further plans to
make a significant percentage of their workforce redundant. The
expectation is without a summer season and without government
support there is the potential for a number of major companies in
the industry to cease operating.
As we've discussed, I know you share my view that aviation
remains a critical part of the UK economy. Yet a year ago the
chancellor promised an aviation sectoral deal. It has still not
materialised. We should not forget that the government's stated
ambition to 'level up' our regions will be dealt a significant
blow if such an important sector is allowed to go
unsupported.
The current situation is delivering the worst of both worlds.
International travel is so reduced as to place the aviation
sector in dire risk, unless promised government support is
delivered.
Yet lax border controls and government confusion mean that we are
not even successfully protecting our boarders against threats
from emerging variants, as the delta variant outbreak shows.
So it is clear that calls for a support package are ever more
urgent. You know Labour has consistently called for a sectoral
deal that supports the whole aviation industry including securing
jobs and protecting the supply chain, while continuing to press
for higher environmental standards.
The aviation sector must become environmentally sustainable, but
to protect against short term unemployment and to help stimulate
that change, the government must take action now to ensure that
long term needs are met.
Even as we transition to a green economy, protecting jobs now, so
they can be reskilled for the future economy, is critical. It is
far easier to transition our aviation sector to become greener
from a point of strength than weakness.
Yours sincerely,
Jim
