Extract from Transport
Questins: Covid-19: Economic Recovery
(Paisley and Renfrewshire
North) (SNP): Swissport, 321; Rolls-Royce700;
Menzies Aviation, 160; and hundreds and hundreds more between
British Airways, NCP, easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2, Flybe, BA CityFlyer,
TUI and SSP. These are not national statistics, but the aviation
job losses in my constituency alone. Might this sector finally get
some good news in the Chancellor’s statement next week? If the
Secretary of State will not comment on specific aviation companies,
will he tell us in general whether he personally thinks it fair
that employees can be fired and rehired on slashed terms and
conditions?
The Secretary of State for Transport (): As I mentioned in my
previous answer, I think the hon. Gentleman is right to be
concerned. We need to ensure that there is fair play for
employees. Everybody understands that it has been an incredibly
tough time. Everyone knows the furlough scheme and many other
measures—£330 billion-worth of measures—have been there to
support the sector. There has also been an individual process
that companies—whether ground handlers, airlines or airports—have
been able to go through with the Treasury to access additional
money. I would appreciate the hon. Gentleman’s help in ensuring
that air bridges can get going as quickly as possible and be
reported to the House. I am very keen to get the devolved
Administrations, including the Scottish Government, on board so
that we can get this thing announced.
Extract from remaining
stages of the Finance Bill (day 2)
(Arundel and South Downs)
(Con):...This is a sector on the verge of exciting and disruptive
change. We are at the dawn of what is called the third era of
aviation, which will bring quieter and cleaner transport to the
skies. Electrification will have as profound an impact as the
replacement of the piston engine by gas turbines. British
businesses such as Rolls-Royce are
leaders in this field, providing engines to the first generation
of all-electric planes, which are being certified for use by the
Federal Aviation Administration right now. Air passenger duty is
not a large source of revenue for the Treasury. At the best of
times, before this crisis, it was expected to account for just
0.5% of all receipts, but with our busiest airport, Heathrow,
reporting flights at just 3% of their normal levels in April, the
revenue from APD this year and next will in any case be paltry. I
conclude by humbly putting the proposition to the Minister that
he may never again have such an affordable opportunity to help a
vital British industry, to enhance his own formidable reputation
on the Government Benches, to strengthen the Union by supporting
domestic flights and to simplify the tax system than he does in
accepting new clause 30..
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
