Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the relationship between direct air connectivity between UK airports and overseas locations and tourism from the overseas locations so connected.

The Government has set up the Airports Commission to examine the question of how best to maintain the UK’s international hub connectivity.

As its Interim Report shows, the Airports Commission is taking account of economic benefits to the UK of aviation connectivity when making recommendations.

The Commission’s final report is due to be submitted to Government in summer 2015. The Government’s principle concern is to protect the integrity and independence of the Commission through to the final report and will not be commenting on its ongoing work.