Asked by Baroness Doocey To ask Her Majesty’s Government what
assessment they have made of the impact that the United Kingdom’s
exit from the European Union Open Skies Agreement would have on the
United Kingdom’s tourism industry. The Parliamentary
Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Sugg)
(Con) My Lords, the Government...Request free trial
Asked by
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To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have
made of the impact that the United Kingdom’s exit from the
European Union Open Skies Agreement would have on the
United Kingdom’s tourism industry.
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for
Transport (Baroness Sugg) (Con)
My Lords, the Government are considering carefully all the
potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the
EU. We are aiming to negotiate the best possible
relationship between the UK and the EU in the field of
aviation and matters impacting on tourism. The importance
of air services to the UK tourist economy is recognised
across government, and we will continue to work closely
with the aviation and tourism industries to ensure their
continued success.
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(LD)
My Lords, the airport operators’ association, ABTA, and all
the major United States airlines have said it is essential
to have new deals in place by spring of next year. Given
the speed of the Brexit negotiations, that is perhaps a bit
optimistic, so what are the Government doing to mitigate
the devastating impact that any disruption or interruption
to flights is likely to have on tourism, which contributes
£127 billion to the UK economy and provides employment for
3 million people?
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My Lords, the UK already has 111 bilateral agreements on
air services with other countries, and they of course will
continue after we leave the EU. However, we understand the
need for early reassurance on flights to the EU, and that
will be a consideration when we negotiate our future
relationship. Airline representatives made it clear last
month to the Transport Select Committee that they would
continue to sell tickets, and that they share our
confidence that we will get a good agreement in place after
Brexit. We meet regularly with the airlines at both
official and ministerial level to discuss the options for
the future aviation relationship.
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(Con)
My Lords, what will happen to the operational regulation of
civil aviation at Brexit? Will that revert to the Civil
Aviation Authority?
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The CAA already operates the vast majority of EU
regulations in the UK and will continue to do so after
exit.
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(Lab)
My Lords, will the Minister guarantee to the House that
there will be no disruption in air traffic as a result of
Brexit in March 2019?
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My Lords, the Government recognise the need for UK air
traffic management arrangements to remain interoperable
with the rest of Europe. Safe and efficient air traffic
management is a priority for us. We are considering all the
potential implications for the UK and working with NATS to
ensure that there is no disruption.
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(CB)
My Lords, will the Minister confirm that flights across the
Atlantic are in fact covered by an agreement between the
European Union and the United States? What contacts have
the British Government had with the United States
Government about the situation if there were not an
agreement with the EU?
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I can confirm that flights between the US and the EU are
currently covered under an EU/US air transport arrangement.
This is of course a really important market for us, with
over 90 million passengers between the UK and the US in
2016. I confirm that my officials are having informal
discussions with the US on air services, and we have made
positive progress. Our aim is to maintain the liberal
market access arrangements available under the current
agreement.
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(Con)
My Lords, my noble friend is of course much younger than
not only me but most Members of the House. Could she tell
the House whether it was possible before 1972 to fly across
the Channel? I seem to remember doing so. It was rather
easier than it is now.
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I can confirm that yes, it was indeed possible to fly
across the Channel, and we look forward to continuing to do
so.
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(Lab)
No guarantees were given to my noble friend in response to his
question, and I am sure that note has been taken of that
fact. In the light of the Answer to the noble Baroness,
Lady Doocey, and of the potential adverse impact on
tourism, will the Government at least do what the aviation
industry wants and give a commitment now to deal with
aviation separately and in advance of the main negotiations
with the EU on Brexit since there is no automatic WTO
fallback for the governance of international aviation
rights if we do not reach agreement on new air service
agreements following our withdrawal from the EU? Will the
Minister, having failed to give the guarantees sought by my
noble friend , at least give a
commitment on behalf of the Government to deal with
aviation separately and in advance of the main
negotiations?
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I am afraid I am not able to give that commitment to the
noble Lord today. How sectors are discussed will of course
be a matter for the negotiations, but of course we
recognise that traditionally aviation agreements have been
negotiated separately. For our part, we are ready to move
on with the negotiations.
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The Lord
My Lords, if it is not possible to give that commitment
now, is it possible to give an idea of a timeline as to
when that commitment can be made, when the aim might become
a reality?
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As I said previously, we are ready to move on with these
negotiations and hope to do so shortly.
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(LD)
My Lords, longer queues at airports are likely to be yet
another exciting bonus of Brexit. What plans do the
Government have to deal with the likely increase in
queueing at the airports?
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My Lords, we are of course mindful of this possibility and
are planning for the border to maintain security and flow
at all ports of entry and exit. The Department for
Transport is working closely with the Home Office to
minimise delays after exit.
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(Con)
My Lords, is it not possible that under Brexit, Britain
will retain its open skies policy and the EU will fall back
into its protectionist mode, a situation which existed when
I was Minister for Aviation—to the great benefit, as it
happened, of the British aviation industry?
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My Lords, it is of course in the common interests of the UK
and the EU that we maintain access to the open, liberal
arrangement for aviation that we currently have, and we are
confident that we will achieve a mutually beneficial
agreement.
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(Lab)
My Lords, the noble Baroness has not given the guarantee that
my noble friend asked for. Can she tell us
what proportion of flights in or out of the United Kingdom
are to Europe—or, in the light of her answer to the noble
Lord, Lord Hannay, what proportion are to or from the United
States, and therefore how many are at risk because the
Government cannot give that guarantee?
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I have already given the figure of 90 million passengers
between the UK and the US, and of course we have our 111
bilateral arrangements, which I have spoken about before. On
the 17 countries with which we currently have a relationship
through being part of the European Union, we are already
having discussions with them to agree a future bilateral
arrangement. On the percentage of flights between the EU and
the UK, I will have to get back to the noble Lord in writing.
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