Asked by: Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative - Rochester and Strood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will reclassify general aviation airfields as a national infrastructure issue for which any changes require approval above local authority level.
Answered by John Hayes
The government is seeking to better define a strategic network of General Aviation airfields and is engaging with the General and Business Aviation Strategic Forum to do this.
Asked by: Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative - Rochester and Strood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to encourage the building and opening of new airfields.
Answered by John Hayes
The majority of airfields in the UK are privately run and owned. Any application to build or open a new airfield would be for the landowner and Local Planning Authorities to consider.
Like other business enterprises, potential investors and owners of airfields can benefit from a range of measures that the Government has set in place to support businesses and promote growth.
Asked by: Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative - Rochester and Strood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will seek a UK exemption on current EU targets for 8.33kHz radio adoption.
Answered by John Hayes
The Government and the Civil Aviation Authority have sought some limited exemptions to keep some channels in use after the deadline. The Government will review the situation should the broader exemptions sought by other states be granted.
Asked by: Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative - Rochester and Strood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of the gross value added to the economy by general aviation in the UK.
Answered by John Hayes
In March 2015 the Government published research that the Department for Transport commissioned from York Aviation entitled “The Economic Value of General Aviation in the UK”.
That research contained an estimate of the gross value added to the economy by general aviation in the UK as being £3.8bn direct and indirect economic benefit, supporting 38,000 jobs.
We consider this research to still be valid but will keep this under review in light of emerging trends.
Asked by: Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative - Rochester and Strood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to incentivise the use of greener fuels in general aviation.
Answered by John Hayes
I refer my honourable friend to the written answer that I gave to the honourable Member for Birmingham, Northfield on 5 April (Reference UIN 69591). We are taking action to encourage the development and supply of lower carbon jet fuels, including by bringing forward proposals to support the use of sustainable alternative fuels in aviation under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation. We will publish the outcome of that consultation in due course.
Asked by: Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative - Rochester and Strood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to commission economic research to provide an update on the General Aviation Strategy published in March 2015.
Answered by John Hayes
The General Aviation Strategy published in March 2015 was supported by research that the Department for Transport commissioned from York Aviation entitled “The Economic Value of General Aviation in the UK” and published on 26 March 2015. We consider this research to still be valid but will keep thus under review in light of emerging trends.
Asked by: Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative - Rochester and Strood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions (a) his Department and (b) Network Rail has with local authorities ahead of major rail maintenance work in the areas covered by those authorities.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Transport does not hold such discussions. Network Rail route teams have an ongoing programme of general engagement with local authorities. Network Rail needs to agree all access to the railway for maintenance, engineering and upgrade works with Train Operating Companies (TOCs). TOCs are primarily responsible for taking account of passenger and other local needs, liaising with local authorities where applicable.
Asked by: Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative - Rochester and Strood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what procedures his Department has agreed with Network Rail on the avoidance of major weekend rail maintenance works on lines serving locations where events likely to attract substantial numbers of people are scheduled.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Network Rail has responsibility for scheduling major weekend rail maintenance works and operates at arm’s length from the Department for Transport. Network Rail plans its major engineering work up to two years in advance. The company considers major recurring events that happen at the same time each year during the early stages of planning, and ensures routes for services are kept available.