Maintaining and enhancing domestic connectivity to Northern Ireland will be one of the key benefits of the expansion at Heathrow. It will ensure increased frequency and greater competition for existing domestic routes, and allow new routes to be served.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Airports National Policy Statement sets out a clear expectation that expansion should deliver at least six new routes by 2030. This could include Belfast International. The Secretary of State for Transport has also set out a clear ambition for about 15 per cent of slots to be made available from a new runway to be used for domestic routes.<\/p>
<\/p>
If new capacity, coupled with the commercial incentives offered by Heathrow, does not deliver Government\u2019s expectations, and links are insufficient, then the Secretary of State for Transport has committed to impose Public Service Obligations to support additional domestic connections.<\/p>
<\/p>
Further detail on the Government\u2019s approach to Public Service Obligations will be set out in the Aviation Strategy Green Paper towards the end of this year.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3991", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jesse Norman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hereford and South Herefordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jesse Norman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-07-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-07-10T14:39:49.553Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-07-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Aviation: Northern Ireland"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make representations to the owners of Heathrow Airport on increasing the number of flights to and from Northern Ireland on daily basis after the expansion of that airport.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1597", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Simpson"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Upper Bann"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "David Simpson"} ], "uin" : "160726"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/530715", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Northern Ireland Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/530715/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government had hoped to announce a decision on airports capacity this summer. Any announcement on airports capacity would have to be made with the House in session and we cannot foresee an announcement until at least October.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government is committed to delivering the important infrastructure projects it has set out, including delivering runway capacity on the timetable set out by the Airports Commission\u2019s report.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1500", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Theresa Villiers"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Chipping Barnet"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mrs Theresa Villiers"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-07-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-07-08T12:51:36.583Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "21"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2016-06-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Aviation: Northern Ireland"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent assessment she has made of the effect on Northern Ireland of postponing the decision on extra runway capacity in South East England.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1388", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Belfast North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Nigel Dodds"} ], "uin" : "41569"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/428838", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/428838/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
There have been no recent discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Airports Commission\u2019s Final Report.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1562", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Scarborough and Whitby"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Robert Goodwill"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-11-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-11-25T11:24:29.72Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-11-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Aviation: Northern Ireland"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive on the Airports Commission: Final report, published July 2015.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1388", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Belfast North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Nigel Dodds"} ], "uin" : "16724"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/390443", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Northern Ireland Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/390443/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
I meet regularly with Cabinet Ministers to discuss a range of issues.<\/p>
As the Secretary of State for Transport has said on a number of occasions, the Government will now carefully consider all of the evidence in the Airports Commission\u2019s Final Report before making a decision on the way forward. The Government will not therefore be commenting on the Airports Commission\u2019s recommendations until it has had time to examine the evidence. However, the Government recognises the need to make a decision as soon as we can, after considering all relevant matters.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1500", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Theresa Villiers"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Chipping Barnet"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mrs Theresa Villiers"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-07-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-07-20T12:18:47.397Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "21"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Aviation: Northern Ireland"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport about the implications of the Davies Report on the UK's airport strategy for Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1437", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lady Hermon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Down"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lady Hermon"} ], "uin" : "7513"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/226388", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/226388/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Secretary of State for Transport has had no recent discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on a Northern Ireland Aviation Strategy.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Secretary of State gave evidence to the Parliamentary Northern Ireland Committee, and the Government responded to the Committee\u2019s report on an air strategy for Northern Ireland in 2013.<\/p>
<\/p>
Air transport policy in the United Kingdom remains a reserved issue. However some related matters including surface access to airports and those pertaining to land use planning are devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1562", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Scarborough and Whitby"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Robert Goodwill"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-17T14:51:13.86Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-03-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Aviation: Northern Ireland"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Northern Ireland Aviation Strategy.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/655", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Antrim"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr William McCrea"} ], "uin" : "227082"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100510", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100510/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The estimated numbers of passengers on flights originating in Northern Ireland who take connecting flights from other UK airports in each of the last five years are given in the table below.<\/p>
| <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> Passengers originating in Northern Ireland who transfer at UK airports, 2009 - 2013<\/p><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> <\/p> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Year<\/p><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> <\/p> <\/p><\/td> Transfer passengers (000's)<\/p><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> <\/p> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2009<\/p> <\/p> <\/p><\/td> 571<\/p> <\/p> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2010<\/p> <\/p> <\/p><\/td> 506<\/p> <\/p> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2011<\/p> <\/p> <\/p><\/td> 400<\/p> <\/p> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2012<\/p> <\/p> <\/p><\/td> 441<\/p> <\/p> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2013<\/p> <\/p> <\/p><\/td> 343<\/p> <\/p> <\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> <\/p> These figures are based on data from the CAA\u2019s passenger surveys and reflect those airports which form part of the continuous survey (Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and Manchester). These airports account for the majority of transfer passengers travelling from Northern Ireland.<\/p> <\/p> Airports across the UK play an important role in securing connectivity for local populations and contribute to local, regional and national economies. The aviation sector\u2019s economic output to the whole UK economy in 2011 was approximately £18 billion, and it employs around 220,000 workers directly and supports many more indirectly. The Government has not made an assessment of the potential effects on Northern Ireland of the operation of the Regional Air Connectivity Fund. Airports in Northern Ireland will be able to apply for support from the Fund if they meet the qualifying criteria.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1535", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Danny Alexander"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Danny Alexander"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-22T15:44:00.3305527Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Aviation: Northern Ireland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on Northern Ireland of the operation of the Regional Air Connectivity Fund.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1593", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sammy Wilson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Antrim"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sammy Wilson"}
], "uin" : "210874"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78105", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78105/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " <\/p>The Regional Air Connectivity Fund has not currently been used to support air links to and from Northern Ireland. <\/em><\/strong><\/em> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>The fund can be used maintain existing domestic air connectivity to London where there is a risk that an existing link may be lost, and to provide financial support to develop new routes from airports of less than five million passengers per year.<\/em><\/strong><\/em> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>Northern Ireland is well-connected by air to London with over 18,000 flights per year between the two Belfast airports and the five main London airports, carrying over two million passengers. The first use of this fund was announced earlier this summer to protect the air route between Dundee and London through a Public Service Obligation. <\/em><\/strong><\/em> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>With regards to providing Start-up aid for new routes, the Department for Transport is working with the Treasury to develop guidance that will clarify how the Government will expect to interpret the European Union State aid guidelines on start-up aid for new air routes. The Department for Transport expects to publish this guidance in the autumn.<\/em><\/strong><\/em> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1562", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Scarborough and Whitby"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Robert Goodwill"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-21T16:13:47.4903587Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Aviation: Northern Ireland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Regional Air Connectivity Fund has been used to support air links to and from Northern Ireland since that fund was created.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/441", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Ivan Lewis"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bury South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Ivan Lewis"}
], "uin" : "205794"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65573", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65573/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " <\/p> Northern Ireland is well-connected by air to London with over 18,000 flights per year between the two Belfast airports and the five main London airports, carrying over two million passengers. The Belfast airports also maintain good connections with other UK airports \u2013 Belfast International Airport has connections to fourteen domestic destinations, and Belfast City Airport to eighteen.<\/p> <\/p> The Chancellor announced in this year's Budget that funding to maintain existing air connectivity to London \u2013 first announced in the 2013 Spending Round last June \u2013 will increase from £10million to £20million per year. It will be expanded to include provision for start-up aid for new air routes from UK regional airports \u2013 including those in Northern Ireland and the other devolved administrations \u2013 which handle fewer than five million passengers per year.<\/p> <\/p> The devolved administration in Northern Ireland, or a regional body in Northern Ireland, may apply for access to the funding for regional air connectivity to maintain an air link from a Northern Ireland airport to London, where there is a risk that an existing link may be lost, and where the case for a Public Service Obligation has been made.<\/p> <\/p> The Department for Transport is working with the Treasury to develop guidance that will clarify how the Government will ordinarily expect to interpret the European Union State aid guidelines on start-up aid for new air routes, and explain how the funding process will operate across the UK. The Department for Transport expects to publish this guidance in the autumn.<\/p> <\/p> |