Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme is capped; and what assessment he has made of the effect of that cap on larger airports.

The Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme intends to allow commercial airports and ground handlers operating at airports in England to be able to apply for support to the equivalent of their site’s business rates liabilities or their COVID-19 losses – whichever is lower – up to a cap of £8m, if they meet the qualifying criteria and conditions.

The cap strikes an appropriate balance between supporting airports in financial distress while protecting the interests of the taxpayer.